As political parties gear up for the upcoming state assembly elections, citizens in Pune are increasingly being bombarded by phone surveys asking them to reveal their preferred candidates.

These surveys, conducted by private firms hired by political hopefuls, aim to gather data about voter preferences in various constituencies.

However, these calls, often coming at inconvenient times, have left many voters frustrated and questioning the integrity of the process.

Citizens have reported receiving calls from unknown numbers, which are followed by pre-recorded messages asking, "Who is your preferred candidate for the upcoming state assembly election in your constituency?" The message usually lists the names of the leading candidates and instructs the voter to press a number to indicate their choice.

What makes these calls particularly irksome is the timing. Many of these surveys are conducted during working hours or at other inconvenient times, causing disruption and annoyance to the recipients. "We’re busy with our own work, and then these calls come at the worst possible times," complained one resident.

Some voters have even expressed discomfort with the idea of sharing their preferred candidate, equating it to revealing their vote before the actual election. "Why should I disclose my voting preference to a random caller? This feels like a violation of my privacy," another frustrated voter added.

Despite the lack of an official election date, political activity in Pune has been steadily increasing. Candidates from various parties have already begun displaying flex banners, posters, and holding public rallies to announce their candidacy, either directly or indirectly.

The survey calls appear to be the latest tactic to gauge public sentiment and figure out which candidates have the upper hand in each constituency.

However, these survey calls have raised significant concerns about privacy. Many voters are worried that their mobile numbers have been accessed without their consent.

Reports suggest that survey companies have obtained these numbers either directly from candidates or through other sources, potentially putting personal privacy at risk. There’s also concern about the handling of data collected during these surveys.

"If they know which candidate I prefer, what’s stopping them from sharing this information with the opposition?" questioned one Pune resident, reflecting a broader worry about the misuse of such personal data.