The Election Commission on Wednesday supported the idea that a person should not be allowed to contest an election from more than one constituency, the Hindustan Times reported. The election panel said this in an affidavit in the Supreme Court in response to a petition filed on the matter in October.
The petition, filed by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, had sought to scrap the law that allows a person to contest elections to the Lok Sabha or state Assemblies from two seats. In December, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the Election Commission and the Centre asking for their responses.
In its affidavit, the Election Commission said it is of the view that the relevant provision in the Representation of People Act should be amended. The election panel also proposed that a candidate who wins both seats they contested should foot the bill for the bye-election that is necessitated in the seat they vacate.
The court will hear the matter next on July 2.
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