Candidates with pending electricity bills to be disqualified

In a measure aimed at reforming electoral practices in urban body polls, candidates would be disqualified from contesting, if they have not paid more than six months of their pending electricity bills, it was officially announced here today.
"Candidates will have to mention the electricity bill due amount. As per a new amendment, candidates will be unable to contest urban body election if electricity bills of the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board or its companies are pending for more than six months," an official release said here today.
Calculation of the due amount of electricity bills would be done by the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission for six months before announcement of election dates, the release said.

Secretary the State Election Commission G P Shrivastava informed that besides affidavits, payment certificates of all taxes of urban bodies should also be taken from candidates, the release said.
He has directed all district election officers to inform representatives of political parties about these provisions in the meeting of the district standing committee, the release said.