ECI Mandates Criminal Record Disclosure for Nuapada By-Election Candidates

Nuapada, Odisha — In a decisive move to uphold electoral transparency, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued stringent directives for candidates contesting the upcoming 71-Nuapada by-election. All contenders must publicly disclose any past criminal records, aligning with Supreme Court guidelines aimed at promoting clean politics.

Political parties are required to publish Form C-7, detailing the criminal background of their selected candidates, within 48 hours of selection.

This must be disseminated through print media, official websites, and social media platforms. Additionally, Form 8 C — which includes a copy of Form C-7 — must be submitted to the ECI within 72 hours.

The final deadline for submitting Format CA to both the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, and the ECI is October 20, 2025. Candidates wishing to withdraw their nominations must file Form 7-A by October 24, 2025. All documents can be submitted electronically via camc-eci@eci.gov.in.

The Commission has emphasised that failure to comply will be treated as contempt of the Supreme Court’s order. Political parties and candidates are advised to stay updated via the CEO Odisha website and ECI’s official social media channels.