The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has termed ‘impractical’ the Election Commission (EC) directive that made it mandatory for candidates to publicise details of criminal cases in the media.
Addressing media persons here on Sunday, BJP State spokesman M.S. Kumar questioned the practicability of the directive while taking into account the other prescribed poll guidelines. The EC has instructed all contesting candidates with previous convictions and pending cases to publicise the details thrice in the month before the election in newspapers and on television.
Mr. Kumar cited the case of National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s candidate K. Surendran who had 242 cases registered against him in connection with the Sabarimala issue. “Under the EC directive, the candidate will be required to spend ₹60 lakh to carry advertisements thrice in newspapers alone. The directive is not feasible, considering that each candidate has to restrict their campaign expenses to ₹75 lakh. We have submitted a complaint to the EC listing our concerns,” he said.