Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Survey reveals Congress’ Deepender Singh Hooda as voters’ favourite contender for the post of Haryana CM.
Fact
Graphic found to be manipulated.
Several social media users, including verified profiles, shared a graphic from an alleged opinion poll on the upcoming Haryana Assembly Elections showing Congress’ Deepender Singh Hooda as the voters’ favourite contender for the post of Chief Minister. Newschecker, however, found the graphic to be untrue.
The image purports that 42% of the respondents picked Hooda as their “favourite face for the CM,” while only 14% preferred incumbent Nayab Singh Saini. Congress’ Kumari Selja and former CM and BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar received only 9% and 6% support respectively in the alleged opinion poll.
The graphic, which has been shared with a meme template showing the reaction of Hooda and Saini to the alleged survey result, has gone viral on Facebook and X with users claiming that Deepender Hooda has emerged as the most popular CM face of Haryana.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
On carefully analysing the vira graphic, we noticed the watermark of ‘Times Now Navbharat’ on the image.
Taking a clue, we looked up keywords “Haryana” and “survey” on the official YouTube channel of the outlet. It yielded a report, dated September 6, 2024, revealing the results of Times Now Navbharat-Matrize Opinion Poll on the upcoming Haryana Elections.
We thoroughly examined the report but could not find the data mentioned in the viral graphic. Further, the survey found that 31% of the respondents consider incumbent Nayab Singh Saini as their “favourite face for the Chief Minister post,” followed by Congress’ Bhupinder Singh Hooda at 29%, and Dushyant Chautala at 8%. 32% of the respondents picked “others” for the CM’s post.
Notably, there was no mention of Deepender Singh Hooda in the findings of the survey about “favourite face for the post of CM.” It is likely that he was included in the “others” category, we were not independently able to verify the same.
A comparison between the viral image and the graphic from Times Now Navbharat’s news bulletin shows discrepancies in the position/design of Haryana’s map, and the wording of the question.
Also Read: AI-Generated Image Of Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif As A Man Goes Viral
Following this, we carefully inspected the graphic and were able to vaguely spot “महाराष्ट्र” written in the centre of the screen.
We then skimmed through the Times Now Navbharat-Matrize Opinion Poll on Maharashtra, and found a visually similar graphic.
A comparison between the viral image and Times Now Navbharat graphic on Maharashtra opinion poll, highlighted multiple similarities. For instance, the placement/alignment of the bars indicating the percentage, and the wording of the question are the same in both the visuals.
It is likely that the graphic on Maharashtra opinion poll has been manipulated to falsely show Deepender Singh Hooda as people’s favourite contender for the Haryana CM post.
Newschecker then reached out to Ranjit Kumar, Managing Editor at Times Now Navbharat, who clarified that the graphic was “fake,” and further said that the number percentages shown in the graphic were different from their survey.
Conclusion
Hence, the viral graphic claiming that a survey reveals Deepender Singh Hooda as the favourite contender for Haryana CM was found to be manipulated.
Result: Altered Photo
Sources
YouTube Video By Times Now Navbharat, Dated September 6, 2024
Report By Times Now Navbharat, Dated September 7, 2024
Correspondence With Times Now Navbharat Managing Editor Ranjit Kumar On September 3, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
