Political Parties & Candidates must not miss deadlines to publish criminal antecedents fixed by ECI: CEO Dr Raju

OFFICE OF CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, PUNJAB

– Political Parties & Candidates must not miss deadlines to publish criminal antecedents fixed by ECI: CEO Dr Raju

– Deadline for advertising first declaration of criminal antecedents of contesting candidates over

Chandigarh, February 8:

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab Dr S Karuna Raju on Tuesday reiterated that political parties and contesting candidates must not miss the deadlines to publish criminal antecedents in Newspapers and Electronic Media fixed by the Election Commission of India.

He informed that the deadline to publish first advertisement to declare the criminal antecedents of contesting candidates in Newspapers and Television has expired on February 8, 2022.

As per the directions, it is mandatory for Contesting candidate and the concerned political party to declare the criminal antecedents of the candidate in Newspapers and Television for three times and the first advertisement has to be published within first four days of withdrawal of nominations.

Dr Raju said that as per the schedule second advertisement can be given between 5th to 8th days of withdrawal of nominations. While, the third advertisement could be given from 9th day till the last day of campaign (the second day prior to date of poll), he added.

The CEO informed that the concerned political party and candidates would have to get this declaration published in the newspapers in a particular region thrice in 12 font size at appropriate place.

He said that advertisements have to be appeared in at least one National Daily Newspaper having circulation beyond 75000 as stated by DAVP/Audit Bureau of Circulation in publicity available records and one Local Vernacular Daily Newspaper published within geographical territory of the State/UT, in the local vernacular language, with a circulation of at least 25000, as stated by DAVP/Audit Bureau of Circulation in publicity available records.

The same must be telecasted for at least seven seconds in the prescribed format for TV Channels to ensure the implementation of the directions in letter and spirit, he said, while adding that the publicity of information regarding criminal past of the candidates shall be telecasted on TV Channels from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm in local language or English.

He also clarified that those candidates, who have not been either convicted or there is no pending criminal case against them need not to publish such advertisements.

Dr Raju also directed District Election Officers (DEOs) and Returning Officers (ROs) to keep watch on all the political parties and candidates that they are publishing the criminal antecedents in given time period and maintain the record.

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