The upcoming civic polls seem to be turning into a battlefield of people with criminal background. As many as 53 persons with criminal records filed their nominations on Thursday.

The state election commission claims to have put criminal cases on speedy trials but that has not prevented such candidates from contesting the polls.

“While filing nomination for civic polls, a candidate is required to submit Proforma B, in which he/she is required to fill up details of any criminal cases pending against them in the past six months. On the basis of information filled up by the candidates, we forward the cases to the senior superintendent of police of the areas concerned. We put such cases on speedy trail, which is normally finalised within the next six months. However, in no case a candidate would be barred from contesting the election except when one is declared ‘wanted’ in a criminal case,” joint election commissioner Ahibhushan Pandey told The Telegraph on Friday.

Pandey claimed that if a candidate does not fill accurate information related to his criminal background and such records are found later, then the election commission would lodge an FIR against that candidate. “In case crime is proved and imprisonment is awarded to a candidate for a period of more than six months, who wins the poll, then his election would be void,” said Pandey.

According to records available with the election commission, 1,274 people filed their nominations across the state till Thursday, including 56 with alleged criminal background. With 12 such nominations, Nalanda topped the list of districts with most number of tainted candidates to be followed by eight from Gaya and Patna and Araria holding a joint third position.

Many such tainted candidates have pending criminal cases against them under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 427 (mischief causing damage) and 147 (rioting) among others of the Indian Penal Code.

Approximately 60 lakh voters are expected to cast their franchise on May 16 to elect 2,760 ward councillors from 114 urban local bodies spread across seven municipal corporations, 38 municipal councils and 69 nagar panchayats in the state.

Ban on VIP entry

The upcoming civic polls seems to have come as a bane for political leaders moving in vehicles with beacon, security guards and escorts among other security arrangements. The election commission has issued a directive banning such leaders and ministers to participate in the wedding ceremonies of any candidate contesting in the upcoming civic polls in any situation. However, the marriage season started from April 18 and will continue till April 25.

“To ensure that no undue publicity is used by candidates, any leader who has been given vehicles, red/blue beacon lights, bodyguard/armed guard, escort and other security arrangement by the government, is not allowed to participate in marriage ceremonies of any candidate contesting in the civic polls in any case. Else, it would be considered contempt of model code of conduct. Moreover, these political leaders are also not allowed to entertain any candidate or organise any procession or public gathering in the municipal area till the time of election,” said Pandey.

He added that the political leaders have to take prior permission from the commission if they are moving through a municipal area.