Candidates to advertise criminal records from poll expenses: EC

New Delhi: The Election Commission has made it clear that candidates will have to bear the cost of advertising their criminal antecedents in TV and newspapers as it comes in the category of 'poll expenses', a senior functionary said Thursday.

The poll panel has made it compulsory for candidates contesting elections to advertise their criminal antecedents in TV and newspapers at least thrice during electioneering.

Though directions in this regard were issued on October 10, 2018, the rule is being used for the first time in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The functionary said political parties had been informed that candidates will have to bear the cost of the advertisement from their poll expenses.

Some parties had approached the poll panel urging it to allow the advertisement expenditure to be borne by them and not the candidates.