Senior BJP leader L K Advani on Monday sought the Election Commission’s intervention, saying the UPA presidential candidate Pratibha Patil has not disclosed her assets and the Commission would be “failing in its duties” if it did not make available “information” to each of the voters.

Without mentioning Ms Patil’s name Mr Advani pointed out in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner that people fighting elections were required to disclose their assets.

The July 19 presidential poll will now witness a straight fight between UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil and Shekhawat after all other nomination papers were rejected on Monday.

Educating electorate
Recalling the Supreme Court judgment of May 2, 2002, he said the court categorically held that the Commission can issue directions in relation to the healthy conduct of elections and in order to educate the electorate about “the antecedents of candidates.” The Supreme Court further held that the voters have a right to know about the background of each candidate, he contended saying “it will make the exercise of voting even more effective”.

“The information which the Election Commission has been directed by the Supreme Court to call for is in relation to the past convictions of the candidate, pending criminal cases, assets of candidate (his/her spouse), liabilities of a candidate including dues of public institutions or Government”, Mr Advani said.