New Delhi: A new modification has been implemented for the candidates contesting in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections as the Election Commission has now made it mandatory for the contestants to reveal and advertise their criminal records in TV and newspapers at least three times during campaigns.
This new rule will be the first time ever to implemented in this Lok Sabha elections which are scheduled from April 11 to May 19 with results coming in on May 23 where the candidates mandated to fill up the amended form (number 26), NDTV reports.
Not only do contestants but also political parties too will have to give publicity to the criminal records of candidates fielded by them.
The directions will now mandate the candidates and the political parties to publicise the criminal records at least on three different dates in widely circulated newspapers and popular TV channels during the campaign period and those who do not have any criminal records will have to mention that.
The candidates are directed to inform parties about their antecedents such as cases in which they have been convicted and cases pending against them and the parties shall be “obliged” to publicize the information on their websites with furnished clippings of their declaration published in papers.
The parties will also have to submit details about the number of such candidates in a state.
However, the expenses on this publicity have not been made clear but according to a senior functionary, the candidates will have to bear the cost.
Those candidates, parties who fail to comply with the new rule will face the prospects of getting their recognition withdrawn or suspended.