No doubt the country eagerly awaits the results of the recently held Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, but the post-poll surveys are not the real thing (“CNN-IBN survey gives AIADMK the edge,” May 11). Even if there is a margin of error, as the TV anchors are quick to tell us, how is it possible to predict what the electronic voting machines have in store for the candidates and the parties in these States? As people are randomly chosen across constituencies to take part in such surveys, there is scope for a very great margin of error. It would also be a mistake to write off the incumbent parties as a spent force.
G. David Milton,
Maruthancode
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It is most gratifying that the percentage of polling has increased in the recent elections to the States concerned, while voting has, by and large, been peaceful. This is an indication that democracy has strong roots in India and that the people are the masters when it comes to choosing their own leaders.
J.P. Reddy,
Nalgonda
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Earlier on, the results of various pre- and exit-poll surveys conducted by various agencies were allowed to be published even when all phases of voting had not been completed. These certainly caused a sensation besides indirectly influencing voters. As such, the publication of survey results this time, almost 60 hours prior to the official announcement of election results, has neither served any useful purpose nor has been of much interest to readers.
K.D. Viswanaathan,
Coimbatore
