Candidate should not contest from two seats, Election Commission tells SC

The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that a candidate should not contest from two constituencies as the court sought Attorney General K.K. Venugopal's assistance in the matter. Under the existing laws, a candidate can contest from up to a maximum of two constituencies in Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections. The EC’s reply came in response to a PIL which seeks a restraint on candidates against contesting from more than one seat. In an affidavit, the EC said that the Representation of the People Act should be amended to restrict a candidate to contest from one seat. The poll panel added that letting a candidate contest from two seats is an “avoidable and unnecessary” burden on the public exchequer.