Hyderabad: Over 74 lakh voters are eligible to vote in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections that began at 7 a.m on 1 December. Voters across the city, including celebrities, are enthusiastically casting their vote. Speculations about the results of the elections are rife.
Amidst this, a photo reportedly of an opinion poll conducted by Axis India has been doing the rounds of social media. According to the viral message, INC will win 73 seats, TRS 37, BJP 24, and AIMIM 14 in the GHMC polls.
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Fact Check:
The claim that the viral image shows an opinion poll conducted by Axis India is FALSE.
NewsMeter checked the website and social media accounts of the Mumbai-based Axis India and found no surveys related to the GHMC elections.
Though Axis India conducted exit polls for Bihar and Madhya Pradesh elections, there is no data about the GHMC elections.
https://www.axismyindia.org/press-releases.php
According to The Hindu, the Telangana State Election Commission has banned the telecast or release of any exit polls till 3 December as voting for one of the GHMC wards, Old Malakpet, has been rescheduled for December.
Earlier, the SEC had cancelled polling for Old Malakpet (ward 26) following the printing of a wrong symbol against the name of the CPI candidate on the ballot paper. Polls will now be held on 3 December from 7 a.m to 6 p.m in all the 69 polling stations and the returning officer will be replaced, too. Due to the re-poll, the SEC has banned the telecast and broadcast of exit polls till Thursday 6 p.m.
This report was also published by other media organisations.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/live-updates-hyderabad-ghmc-elections-2020-voting-underway/liveblog/79501872.cms
Therefore, the viral photo of an opinion poll conducted by Axis India showing the INC in the lead in the GHMC polls is FALSE.