The Election Commission of India has banned exit polls during the entire period when elections to the five state assemblies would be held.

In a statement in Dehradun on Sunday, chief electoral officer, Uttarakhand, Radha Raturi said that in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission of India has notified the period between 7am on 28th January 2012 and 5.30 pm on 3rd March 2012 as the period during which conducting any exit poll or disseminating the result of any exit poll would be prohibited.

While 28th January is the first day of polling in Manipur, 3rd March is the last day of polling in Goa and Uttar Pradesh.

Raturi said that under the provisions, displaying any election matter, including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be prohibited.