Patna, April 27: KYC is a common term in the banking sector where this acronym is used for know your customer guidelines for opening accounts or for other financial transactions.

People residing in urban or semi-urban areas of Bihar are going to be acquainted with a totally different kind of KYC during elections of urban local bodies scheduled on May 21 and June 4. In the context of the urban local bodies elections, the KYC stands for know your candidate. The State Election Commission has directed all district magistrates (DMs) except those of Begusarai and Arwal, where polls are not being held, to ensure that details about the candidates contesting these elections are displayed properly.

Elections for nine municipal corporations, 38 nagar parishads and 65 nagar panchayats, spread over 36 districts are going to be held. The terms of urban local bodies of Begusarai and Arwal districts have not been completed, hence elections are not being held there. According to the State Election Commission letter sent to the DMs, the details about contestants have to be collected on the basis of affidavits submitted by them at the time of filing nominations and no use of other sources should be opted for.

"In case information collected from other sources is used there would be possibility of controversy on the basis of authenticity of information," reads the letter.

The district administrations have been directed to display these information on appropriate-sized posters and the same should be displayed at least in 10 places in the ward from where the given candidate is contesting and these bills would carry the signature and stamp of the electoral officer concerned. The same bills also have to be displayed outside polling booths on election day.

Giving a reason for the initiative, a State Election Commission official said: "Keeping the electors informed about candidates will help the people know about candidates in advance. As local body elections are not held on party lines in Bihar, it becomes imperative on the part of the administration to provide authentic information about the candidates so that people could take a decision about their choice on the basis of facts."

As far as the kind of information that will be provided to people about their candidates, the State Election Commission has developed a format in which the details have to be displayed and it includes educational qualification, past experience and criminal background (if any) of the candidate.

Praising the initiative, Sudha Singh, a resident of Ashiana Nagar said: "Generally, we make our opinions on the basis of what candidates tell us during the course of campaign and the input from our neighbourhood where discussions about candidates start taking place during elections. If the government provides authentic information, it will help voters in deciding their options in a better manner."

Apart from KYC, the SEC has also directed the district administrations to depute lady teachers at those polling booths where women voters come in veils on the polling day. A similar move had been taken during the assembly elections in the state by the election commission of India.

Also, the State Election Commission, keeping summer in mind, has directed officials concerned to ensure that no voter is made to stand in the open while waiting for his/her turn to cast votes at the polling booth. The commission directive says that in case of absence of sheds at a given booth, arrangements should be made to make temporary shades at the booths.