Lok Sabha Polls 2019: EC makes it mandatory for candidates to advertise their criminal records on TV and newspapers

EC has made it mandatory for candidates contesting in the Lok Sabha polls to advertise their criminal antecedents in television and newspapers.

EC has made it compulsory for candidates to advertise their criminal antecedents

Candidates who do not have records have to mention the same

Parties which fail to comply will have to face the consequences

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: The Election Commission has finally announced the schedule for the much-awaited Lok Sabha elections and its game time for all political parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and others. As the country is all pumped for high-decibel electoral combat in seven phases, EC has presumably made roads tougher for all candidates contesting the general elections this year. For the first time ever, the electoral body has made it mandatory for candidates contesting in the Lok Sabha polls to advertise their criminal antecedents in television and newspapers for at least three times during electioneering. According to the directions, political parties too will have to give publicity to the criminal records of candidates fielded by them. This means that both political parties and candidates contesting elections will have to publicise their criminal records at least on three different dates in widely circulated newspapers and popular television channels during the campaign period. Candidates who do not have records have to mention that. The candidates will now have to fill up an amended form (number 26). They will have to inform parties about their antecedents such as cases in which they have been convicted and cases pending against them. The move by EC is aimed at bringing a better candidate before the public to vote. The directions for this move were announced in October last year and it will be used for the first time in these general election scheduled to be held from April 11 to May 19. The candidates will have to fill up an amended form number 26 and they will also have to inform their parties about their criminal records and cases in which they have been convicted along with the cases where the trials are pending. The EC said that all political parties will be “obliged” to upload the candidates’ criminal records on their website. The EC has strictly said that parties which fail to comply will have to face the prospect of getting their recognition withdrawn or suspended. Apart from this, candidates are also required to furnish details of their social media accounts and share their expenditure on social media ads.

Published at : 12 Mar 2019 11:23 AM (IST)

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