18% of candidates contesting in third phase of Lok Sabha polls face criminal cases: Analysis

Eighteen percent – 244 out of 1,352 – of the candidates contesting in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections have criminal cases against them, the non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms said in a report on Monday.

The organisation analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 1,352 candidates contesting in 95 constituencies across 12 states. The third phase of the polls will be held on May 7.

The analysis showed that 172 candidates stand accused in serious criminal cases that attract a punishment of five years imprisonment or more. Of the 244 candidates with criminal cases, five have murder charges against them and 24 have declared cases related to attempt to murder.

A total of 38 candidates have been accused in cases related to crimes against women and two of them are accused in cases related to rape. Of the total, 17 candidates have declared cases related to hate speech.

Among the major parties, 22 of the 82 candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party and 26 of the Congress’ 68 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

All three candidates of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and four out of five candidates of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) have been accused in criminal cases. Two out of three candidates of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) and five out...

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