Indian Pollsters 'Agreed to Manipulate Data for Cash'

In India, a number of opinion polling agencies have been caught on camera agreeing to manipulate poll data or supply misleading results in exchange for cash, according to an undercover investigation conducted by broadcaster News Express.

News Express reporters claimed to have approached thirteen polling agencies and were turned down by two (AC Nielsen and the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies). The remaining eleven agencies agreed to produce favourable numbers through margin of error, to suit the interests of a political party, the channel claims. Among these eleven are QRS (Quality Research and Services), CVoter, Ipsos India, MMR and DRS.

Several secretly recorded video clips from what News Express described as its 'sting operation' were aired on Tuesday, showing reporters posing as consultants for various political parties. In the clips, the pollsters agreed to deliver false numbers, with one clearly stating: 'For a price, the prediction of seats tally can be changed to suit the interests of political parties.' In a statement, News Express said that the agencies in question showed 'no qualms' in accepting money for this purpose.

DRS has since explained that its executive has now left the company, while Ipsos said in a statement that the term 'manipulation' has been used incorrectly to explain the concept of 'margin of error'. India Today magazine and Times NOW have both suspended opinion polls conducted by C-Voter, pending an explanation from the agency, while C-Voter MD Yashwant Deshmukh claims that the channel failed to show that he had repeatedly refused to manipulate his findings.

Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal has urged The Election Commission to take up the matter and initiate an investigation.