Greater Noida: There are fewer Independents contesting from Gautam Budh Nagar constituency this time compared to previous general elections. While there were 12 and nine Independent candidates in the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha polls , respectively, the number in 2019 is down to five.Former candidates attribute this to several reasons, including rejection of candidature, lack of funds and “complex” nomination forms. This time, the EC has added another requirement in the form — details of income tax in the past five years. The amendment in the Conduct of Election (Amendment) Rules 2019, notified by the ministry of law and justice in February, has changed the format of Form 26.Previously, a candidate had to only declare the last IT return (for self, spouse and dependents) in Form 26 but in the amended form, five years’ returns need to be furnished, along with details of offshore assets.In the 2017 Assembly elections, there were 11 candidates in the fray for four out of five districts in the Gautam Budh Nagar parliamentary constituency. While Sikandrabad did not have any Independent candidate, Dadri had six, Noida and Jewar two each and Khurja one.Vimlesh Sharma, a social worker who contested that election, said 17 nomination forms had been rejected by the EC. “Candidates are demotivated. Last time, we complained to EC but no action was taken,” she said, adding, “Anyone with a clean image won’t be able to afford the amount of money required to be spent in a Lok Sabha election campaign.”Anoop Khanna, an activist who runs the initiative Dadi ki Rasoi, told TOI rejection of nominations leads to suspicion that candidates who can affect votes of heavyweight candidates are deliberately discouraged. “No time is given to file an appeal. After rejection, the only resort for a candidate is to appeal in high court. By the time the decision comes, the last date of nomination is already over,” he said.Imran Numberdar, who contested as an independent in 2017, said the form should be made easier. “The procedure is so complex that even lawyers find it difficult. Candidates should also be informed about the lacunae in their forms,” he said.

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