Shillong, Jan 13: The Election Commission of India has directed all candidates with criminal background to publish in the newspapers and news channels regarding the cases registered against them.
Speaking ro reporters here on Friday, the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the commission has mandated that each candidate, if he has a criminal background must publish it in newspapers three times prominently and also in news channels.
“They have to mention that these are the cases against me so that the voters can make an informed choice. If he still wants to vote, that is the voter’s choice, our job is to put it in the public domain, publicise it as much as possible,” Kumar said.
He added that political parties who have given them tickets must also publish their background in the same manner.
“They must explain and give it in newspapers and also give a justification as to why they have selected a person with a criminal background, was it so difficult to get a person without criminal background in that particular constituency – that also the political parties need to publish and with this application, voters can know what is the background and what are the charges,” he said.
