Former Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami, while expressing his opinion that exit polls do influence voting decision (Tamil Nadu editions, May 10), has also spoken disparagingly of the elections in Tamil Nadu in that political parties “bribe” voters through manifestos that rest on the bedrock of innumerable freebies. This culture has been prevalent for several years now and nobody ever tried to curb it. What is the point in Mr. Gopalaswami talking about the “ills” now when he himself did not take any remedial step during his tenure as the CEC?
P.G. Menon,
Chennai
Present-day voters are well-informed and cannot be taken for a ride just by pre-poll surveys alone, though there might be a negligible swing impacted by such opinion polls. The popularity of a party speaks only when performance peaks. To shut the doors outright on pre-poll surveys deprives the voters of their legitimate right to benefit from what the majority thinks of a certain party or a candidate. At best, pre-poll surveys can be subjected to an audit to test the veracity of the methods adopted and the samples selected. When there are too many contenders for the pie, the voter should know what is the intrinsic worth and what are the prospects of the players he has chosen to side.
S. Vasudevan,
Chennai
