Should opinion polls be banned during pre election period?

Should opinion polls be banned during pre election period?

Introduction

Opinion polls are great for parties that get good results and bad for parties that are predicted to be failures. But, opinion polls are not about accuracy or inaccuracy. They are about freedom of speech and the right to research any matter thoroughly. Opinion polls are the foundation of any society. However, during the pre election period, opinion polls are sometimes used to lower morale or trumpet the prospects of a party. Sometimes opinion polls are correct. Sometimes they are not. Banning opinion polls will not serve any purpose though. All our political leaders and parties will still find a way to highlight their achievements and secure the votes of the masses through one way or another. The consolation for the losing party/parties is that one day, their time will come. Positive opinion polls are a crowning glory for the victors to the political throne. In the end, it is all about showmanship and muscle power.

Viewpoint

• Banning opinion polls will not serve any purpose. It will merely alienate the media and masses from the leaders. People will see it as a curtailment of their right to voice their own opinion. India is a nation of intellectual thinkers and activists. No one would like to be silenced and there will be negative impact of any move to ban opinion polls.

• While it is true that pollsters can be bribed to declare results in favour of a certain candidate, this is a drawback of the person/group conducting the polls and not the research methodology itself per se. Opinion polls only serve to highlight major trends.

• Opinion polls can also alert both winning and losing parties to the key issues at play. If anti-graft parties are gaining popularity, other leaders should realize that corruption is a big issue. If social welfare is becoming a major topic of debate in opinion polls, all parties should prepare their election strategy accordingly.

• Politics in India has always had an element of drama. Our political history is dotted with all types of scandals and surprises. India’s political atmosphere is highly charged and opinion polls can alert parties about the direction the voting is going to go.

• Opinion polls also have massive benefits for the public. Followers and supporters of certain parties can alert their leaders about possible problems and bad results in the upcoming elections. Party workers can form strategies for coping with any surprises.

• Free and fair elections are not a reality due to all kinds of scandals and controversies that are prevalent in India. Being a political leader in India is probably one of the toughest jobs in the world. Opinion polls make it easier for parties to confront realities and chalk out their survival strategies beforehand. All parties must be ready for any type of outcome. Opinion polls just provide a forewarning which political leaders should heed.

Conclusion

Opinion polls may be ethically or unethically conducted. But this does not mean that they should be banned. Instead, they should be used as a political gauge or barometer for any further decisions or strategies. Rather than viewing the opinion poll as an enemy, political leaders should see it as a friend. However, the final results of any election are not just influenced by opinion polls. A lot more goes into the process. Those who are caught napping will live to pay the price for it.