EC rejects demand for filing of affidavits by Presidential candidates

The Election Commission has rejected a demand to make mandatory filing of affidavits by candidates in Presidential poll disclosing their assets and criminal record, if any.

The demand was made by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) which is working for improving governance and strengthening democracy through electoral and political reforms.

Two former Chief Election Commissioners T S Krishnamurthy and N Gopalaswami had also written to the Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath for making such affidavits mandatory in the coming Presidential elections.

Sources said the EC has rejected such a proposal of making prior mandatory disclosures of details of criminal, financial and educational background of candidates contesting the Presidential poll.

"We cannot ask the candidates contesting the election of the President of India to file the affidavits," the Commission said in its reply to ADR's letter to CEC.

It is mandatory for all candidates contesting the election to Lok Sabha and state assemblies to file disclosure affidavits carrying details of criminal, financial and educational background of candidates.