Starting this year, the candidates contesting in the coming assembly and general election will have to declare their criminal records through affidavits in newspapers and electronic media before filling nomination papers. This directive by the election commission of India(ECI) comes into effect following a Supreme Court ruling last year. It will be interesting to see how the ECI directive is implemented in Arunachal Pradesh. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kaling Tayeng while speaking to media on Monday made it clear that commission’s order will have to followed in Arunachal too.
This is a very good initiative and will aid the voters to make their choice. Several people with criminal records are expected to contest coming election across the country including in Arunachal Pradesh. If their criminal records are placed on public, the voters will get more insight into the character of the person whom they are going to vote. This will perhaps help to save the democracy. The entry of criminals into politics is one of the main causes for underdevelopment of India. Especially in states like UP, Bihar, MP, Maharasthra etc criminals play active role in politics. No doubt they have democratic right to participate in the electoral process but several of the tactics adopted by them to win election are against democratic norms. Therefore the election commission’s directive to the contesting candidates to declare their criminal records in media will go long way in checking entry of criminals into politics.