The Government has floated a proposal to bar from elections candidates facing chargesheets for heinous offences one year before the polls. This was disclosed by Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Quraishi in New Delhi on Friday.

He said the Government had modified the Election Commission's proposal, which had suggested debarring a candidate from election if a chargesheet for heinous offences was filed against him at least six months prior to the polls.

Dr Quraishi expressed hope that the proposed electoral reforms would get Parliament approval during the Budget Session. He said Parliament could not take up electoral reforms during the Winter Session, probably because the Lokpal issue kept the Government busy round the clock.

Dr Quraishi said the Government had been saying that political consensus had been difficult on debarring criminals, which is obvious because every party has its share of such candidates.