Prospective candidates for elections to Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha will have to file only one affidavit instead of 2 with their nomination papers. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has amended draft for affidavit (Form-26) to be presented with nomination papers by candidates entering poll fray.
Earlier, a candidate had to present two affidavits in Form-26. One affidavit contained information about criminal background and another about liabilities, if any, details of assets and educational qualification.
On Election Commission's recommendation, the Union Government merged both the forms into one, which will contain information of both the forms in single format.
The law and Justice Ministry has published the amended format of Form-26 through a notification in the Gazette on August 1, 2012.
Under revised Form-26, only one affidavit will have to be presented. The Election Commission has directed to apprise all Electoral Officers of the revised format.
New arrangement of affidavit will apply to both Vidhan Sabha and lok Sabha elections.
Apart from details regarding candidate in serial numbers 1 to 6, the affidavit in revised format to be present before Returning Officer will also have detailed information regarding his PAN number, income tax returns, pending court cases with complete details, quantum of punishment in case of being convicted in any criminal case etc.
In the same portion of the affidavit from serial number 7 to 9, the candidate will provide details of assets of self, spouse and dependents (moveable and immoveable), liabilities towards public financial institutions and government and sources of finance and livelihood.
The candidate will give details about his educational qualification on serial number 10 of the form.
In part B of the form, candidate will have to give his full name, postal address, name of the political party which had fielded him, number of cases in which jail sentence of 2 or more years have been pronounced, total number of cases of which courts have taken cognisance, number of cases in which he has been convicted and sent to jail for one more years.
In the same portion, a candidate will have to provide his permanent account number, last income tax returns, total declared income, details of assets and liabilities (in rupees), moveable and immoveable assets and their purchase value, cost of development/construction of fixed assets, assets' estimated value at current market rates, government liability, loans availed from banks, financial or other institutions, highest educational qualification etc. Attestation will be done on the last page of the affidavit.
Candidates will have to submit their affidavits till 3 pm on the last date of filing nomination papers.