Panchayat poll candidate debarred for lack of toilet at home

The lack of toilet at house proved costly for a candidate in a bypoll for a district panchayat member's post here as his candidature was rejected as per the rules of state's new Panchayat Raj amendment 2016.
The by-election became necessary after the sitting panchayat member, Mangal Singh Dhurve, was elected as MLA.
Betul Collector and returning officer Shashank Mishra rejected the nomination of Santosh Pandram as his house lacked toilet, a panchayat official said.
Under the column in nomination form about whether the house has a toilet or not, Pandram filled in "No," following which the returning officer rejected his candidature, the official said.

As per the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Raj Evam Gram Swaraj (Amendment) Rule, 2016, it is mandatory to have a toilet with running water in the residential premises of a person for being eligible to contest the panchayat elections.