Election Commission's flip flop on exit poll ban

“On the evening of 16th you can openly telecast the exit polls... Exit poll is only after counting. What is the hurry?  Hardly, there are 150 hours (between May 12 and May 16),” he added.

Asked why the exit polls cannot be telecast before May 16, Brahma argued that there could be repoll in several places.  

“What is the guarantee that you will have no repolling or countermanding of polls on 13th or 14th,” he said.

“The law is very clear. The exit poll is banned as per the law of the land. In 2010, we banned exit polls. As per the law of the land...No exit poll before 16th,” the Election Commissioner said.

Sources in the EC later said there was a “slip of tongue” on part of Brahma with regard to the date.