The candidates fighting election will now have to declare their as well as spouse’s sources of income while filing nominations. The government has amended the Conduct of Election Rules to include a fresh column in the affidavit relating to the source of income of self and spouse.
The Election Commission is of the view that it will bring transparency in the election process.The new rule has been recently notified by the Law Ministry. The Commission had approached the Law Ministry in this regard last year.
Before that, a candidate was required to disclose details of assets and liabilities for self, spouse and three dependents in Form 26 while filing nomination paper but not the source of income.
Under the new rule, the declarations regarding conflict of interest and office of profit have been expanded through the amendments. The candidates will have to tell specifically whether he or she holds an office of profit. Holding such an office attracts immediate disqualification.
Similarly, the candidate will have to tell whether he or she is a manager in a government company. Those holding such positions are barred from contesting.