ECI ASKS PARTIES TO MAKE PUBLIC CRIMINAL ANTECEDENTS OF CANDIDATES BEFORE TIRTOL BY-POLL IN ODISHA

Bureau,Odishabarta

DELHI:The Election Commission of India has directed political parties to make public their candidates’ criminal antecedents participating in Balasore and Tirtol by-polls.

The order said the parties must ensure the publication of the same through print and electronic media.

The ECI’s directives in the matter of publicity of criminal antecedents by the contesting candidates as well as by the political parties nominating such candidates were discussed in detail in the Commission’s meeting on Wednesday.

The directive of the Election Commission said the first publicity must be done within the first four days of the last date of withdrawal. The second publicity is required to be done within 5th to 8th day of the last date of withdrawal and the third publicity should be done from the 9th day till the last day of the campaign, i.e. two days prior to the date of poll.

The ECI said this timeline will help the voters in exercising their choices in more informed manner. The uncontested winning candidates as well as the political parties who nominate them shall also publicise the criminal antecedents.The ECI has said these modified instructions shall apply with immediate effect.

#PNS