BJP candidate R Sreelekha’s Facebook post on pre-poll survey sparks row

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP candidate R Sreelekha IPS landed in controversy on Tuesday after a Facebook post referring to a pre-poll survey triggered allegations of an election code violation. She posted the 'survey' soon after voting began in the first phase of Kerala’s local body elections.

Both the UDF and LDF accused her of violating the poll code, as the Election Commission of India has barred the publication of pre-poll surveys before the election ends. According to reports, the State Election Commission has referred the matter to the Cyber Police for action.

The pre-poll survey claimed that the BJP would win the local body polls by a record margin, pushing the LDF to second place and the UDF to third.

Once her post made headlines, Sreelekha deleted it. The former DGP is contesting from the Sasthamangalam ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

Minister V Sivankutty criticised Sreelekha and said the post was a reflection of her 'political ignorance'. “She has no understanding of the political situation in the state. She simply shared something written by someone else, without studying previous elections or analysing voter sentiment,” he told reporters after casting his vote.

The Election Commission of India strictly regulates pre-poll surveys under Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibits the publication or publicity of exit polls or opinion polls within 48 hours of the end of the election.

The first phase of local body elections is underway in seven districts — Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam and Ernakulam.