Court leaves exit poll issue hanging
The Supreme Court has adjourned a hearing on the controversial Election Commission ruling banning the publication of pre-poll and exit-poll surveys by the media to the last week of March. The apex court also refused to reply to queries on the implication of the adjournment and on whether it meant that the media would risk prosecution if it went ahead with the surveys.
EC blacks out Cong poll violation
Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill may have announced that political parties will not be allowed any advertising on television, but neither the Congress nor the southern networks seem to be aware of the ruling. The Congress has released four films on regional satellite channels in South India in total violation of the EC ruling. EC officials, however, claimed ignorance about the telecast of these films.
Plea to delete part of BJP manifesto rejected
The Madras High Court has dismissed a batch of public interest writ seeking an amendment in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) election manifesto. The petitions were requesting deletion of a portion of the BJP's manifesto relating to construction of a temple in Ayodhya. The court, however, dismissed the petitions, claiming that the Election Commission was the appropriate authority to decide the issue.
Advani cocks a snook at Sonia
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president L K Advani yesterday challenged the Congress to make its post-poll intentions clear. He also urged the Congress to openly state whether Sonia Gandhi is its prime-ministerial candidate. He claimed that this would help the voters as they would have a clear choice between the BJP and its allies and the Congress-United Front combine.
SC refuses to stay EC move on Assam voters
The Supreme court has refused to stay an Election Commission (EC)decision to exclude 3.68 lakh voters from the electoral rolls in Assam on the grounds that their citizenship was either disputed or doubtful. A division bench of Justices S P Bharucha and V N Khare turned down the plea for stay in the petition moved by the Jamait-ulema-e-Hind against the EC's decision.
No apology for poster: BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party disowned the election poster showing Sikh Guru Gobind Singh "in the background" of leader Atal Behari Vajpayee, though refusing to apologise for it. Consequent to this announcement on Thursday BJP party workers have been directed total avoidance of its use for electioneering.
