In keeping with a recent Supreme Court order, voters can now expect to get a fair idea of the antecedents of candidates contesting elections.
The order makes it mandatory for candidates to file an affidavit detailing their assets, liabilities and criminal cases, if any, pending against them.
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Needless to say, this information will be available to rival candidates too who can be expected to file counter affidavits in case a candidate is hiding or has filed wrong information.
According to K Suryakrishnamurthy, an official in the Election Commission of Maharashtra, "We will not accept nominations sans the affidavits."
The affidavits would have to be filed before a first class judicial magistrate, a public notary or any other authority appointed by the concerned high court.