Assam polls: 14% candidates have criminal cases against them, 11% with serious charges

Of the 722 candidates contesting in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, 102, or 14% of them, have declared criminal cases against themselves, the non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms has said in a report.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, 138 of 941 candidates, or about 15%, had reported similar criminal cases.

A total of 82 candidates, or 11%, have declared serious criminal cases against themselves this time, as compared to 12% in 2021.

The highest proportion of candidates with declared criminal cases comes from the All India United Democratic Front. The party has fielded 20 candidates, out of which 11, or 37%, are accused of crimes.

This is followed by the Congress, with 28 of 99 candidates, or 28%, and the Asom Gana Parishad, with six of 26 candidates, 23%.

Two, or 20%, of the Assam Jatiya Parishad’s candidates and two, or 15%, of the Raijor Dal’s have declared criminal cases.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded eight, or 9% of candidates, with such cases. One of three candidates from the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation has also declared a criminal case.

Among serious criminal cases, the All India United Democratic Front has the highest share at 30%, followed by the Congress at 20%. The BJP has 9% of candidates with serious cases.

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