`Dangerous trend' - Opinion polls unscientific, says CPM

The CPM in Tamil Nadu on Thursday asked the Election Commission to stop media houses from publishing opinion polls, which it said were unscientific and “nothing short of commercial“.
In a statement, CPM state general secretary G Ramakrishnan said the contradictory results of opinions polls by two television channels and a daily only reflected that the outcome was untrue.
“The electorate, especially the young voters, is craving a change from Dravidian parties. Several media houses support these parties, and in the name of opinion polls, the organizations are interfering with the freedom of voters. It goes against the principles of objectivity that the media should uphold,“ the Left leader said.
He alleged that the Election Commission had been upholding and enforcing “irrelevant rules“ in the name of the model code of conduct but was overlooking these opinion polls, which sought to influence the voters. Opinion polls are as dangerous as inducing voters with cash or creating caste and religious conflicts to sway the electorate, he said.Ramakrishnan said the people of Tamil Nadu would endorse the third front, of which his party is a constituent, as it has projected itself as an alternative to the DMK and AIADMK.