Gandhinagar:
"People are the best judge," said Narendra Modi in a blog today as he attacked the Congress for questioning opinion polls prior to crucial assembly and national elections ahead.
"If you ask me, the solution is much simpler. Rather than cope with these authoritarian and subversion tactics of the Congress, it is better we reject the anti-democratic Congress not merely in an opinion poll but in the Polling Booth (sic) where it matters the most," the BJP's prime ministerial candidate wrote in his blog. (
Read entire blog here)
"A government that is in denial over where the Public Opinion really stands is doomed to be thrown out of power," the 63-year-old leader, who heads the BJP campaign to oust the Congress in 2014 elections, added.
The Gujarat Chief Minister's remarks came in response to senior Congress leaders questioning the merit and authenticity of opinion polls, mostly conducted by research agencies and media outlets before a major election.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh today said that while a total ban on opinion polls would be "undemocratic", his party believes that the results of these polls must not be declared in the last 48 hours before voting is held.
"In a country of 1.2 billion people, how can a few thousand people predict the trend?" said Mr Singh to NDTV.
The BJP counters by saying that recent opinion polls have reflected the popularity of their prime ministerial candidate, Mr Modi, and that the Congress can smell defeat and is therefore keen to bury the results. "Only losers want opinion bolls banned," said senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley. (
Congress opinion is sour grapes, says BJP)
By December 4, five states will choose their next government. National elections are due by May. Currently, opinion polls cannot be conducted, or their results declared, in the last 48 hours before voting is held.