New Delhi, 04 April (H.S.):
The Election Commission of India has urged citizens to use the ECI Net platform to access details on candidates' educational qualifications, criminal cases, and asset information during the 2026 general and by-elections.
According to the Election Commission, elections to the legislative assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal were announced on March 15, alongside bypolls on eight seats in Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura. For voting on April 9, a total of 1,955 candidates are in the fray across Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.
The last date for withdrawal of nominations for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (Phase 1) is April 9, while it is set for April 13 for West Bengal (Phase 2).
Voters can access information on criminal cases against candidates, their assets and liabilities, educational qualifications, and official social media handles through the ECI Net's Know Your Candidates (KYC) module. Additionally, the complete affidavit (Form-26) submitted by candidates can be downloaded from the platform.
The ECI noted that ECI Net is the world's largest electoral service platform, integrating over 40 apps and portals to provide voter services under one roof. Through this platform, voters can handle registration, search voter lists, track application status, contact election officials, download e-EPIC, resolve complaints, and access other facilities.
The Commission emphasized that such digital platforms play a crucial role in enhancing transparency and voter awareness.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar