Booths to show candidates' crime history

Bhopal: Polling booths in 37 civic bodies in Madhya Pradesh, going to polls on August 11, are set to display candidates’ criminal records and wealth acquired by them for the votes to assess them.

A circular issued by MP Election Commission on Saturday has directed all the 51 district collectors in the state to prominently exhibit the affidavits filed by the candidates in large flexi hoardings before the polling booths. MP will be the second state after Maharashtra in the country to do so.

“Criminal records of candidates will be on display in every polling booth in 37 civic bodies going to polls on August 11 in the state. We will be putting up large flexes detailing criminal records, assets and liabilities of candidates as they have provided in their affidavits,” commission secretary Sunita Tripathysaid.

“The move aims at acquainting voters about the candidates they are going to choose, thereby discouraging criminals entering into politics,” an official of the commission told this newspaper.

“We hail the move by the state poll body wholeheartedly. Now, voters will be able to know the real face of the candidates vying for the posts of presidents and corporators in the civil bodies. The provision should also be extended to the Assembly and LS polls,” convenor of MP unit of Association for Democratic Reforms Rolly Srivastav said.