• Is there a reason for us to worry when the Chief Election Commissioner says he is worried about criminalisation, but he is not able to anything about it.

Yes, I think so. And the time has come to give very serious thought to it. We made our recommendations three-four years ago that people with serious criminal allegations against them should be kept out of the poll fray. In fact, we didn't do it in a light way. We said anybody accused of an offence in which the sentence could be five years or more, keep them out if there is a chargesheet issued. Not merely on the basis of an FIR.

• Is that what you're recommending now -- that that's one way of weeding out such elements?

And we said, 'In case there is an apprehension that cases may be filed at the last minute, just before the elections, you keep a six-month moratorium period.' So, if some chargesheet is filed less than six months before the start of the election, ignore it. You only take into account charges made before that. To avoid the apprehension that there may be cases brought just to keep an opponent out.

• But today, you know, people with very serious criminal charges can contest elections from jails. As if they were freedom fighters.

Yes. In fact, 15 per cent of the contestants in Uttar Pradesh had criminal charges. And I don't feel very hopeful that the figure will be less than 15 per cent when the final results come. It can be much more.

... contd.