Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Discover if your candidate has a criminal background: Here's how

PTC News Desk: In a proactive move to empower voters with essential information ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar unveiled a groundbreaking mobile application called 'Know Your Candidate' (KYC) on Saturday. This application, available for download on both Android and iOS platforms, aims to equip voters with insights into the criminal history, assets, and liabilities of electoral candidates vying to represent their respective constituencies.

Announcing the launch of the KYC app during a press conference to disclose the poll schedule, Kumar emphasized the significance of voters being informed about the criminal records, if any, of candidates seeking to serve in the Lok Sabha.

"The 'Know Your Candidate' or 'KYC' application empowers voters to ascertain whether a candidate contesting for their constituency has a criminal background," stated Kumar, underlining the importance of transparency in electoral processes. Through this user-friendly application, voters can independently verify information pertaining to candidates' criminal records and financial standings, enabling them to make informed decisions come election day.

The Election Commission underscored that political parties nominating candidates with a criminal background would be mandated to provide justification for their selection. Additionally, candidates themselves are obligated to disclose their criminal history, which will be disseminated through newspapers and television broadcasts on three occasions.

"Candidates with a criminal record are obliged to disclose this information publicly through newspapers and television broadcasts thrice," reiterated Kumar, highlighting the accountability placed on political parties in the candidate selection process.

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Moreover, parties fielding candidates with a tainted history are required to elucidate the basis for their selection over other contenders deemed more suitable.

The KYC app, serving as a tool for electoral transparency and accountability, stands as a pivotal resource for voters seeking to make informed electoral decisions. Available for download on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, this application marks a significant step towards fostering transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

Features of the Know Your Candidate app include:

Search functionality by candidate names.

1. Display of information regarding the candidate's criminal history, if applicable.
2. Provision of details regarding the status of any ongoing criminal cases against the candidate.
3. Presentation of the nature of offenses the candidate has been accused of.
4. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to unfold across seven phases, commencing on April 19. Vote counting is slated for June 4.

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(Inputs from agencies)