Kerala polls: 38% candidates have criminal cases, 23% with serious charges

Of the 863 candidates contesting in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, 324, or 38% 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, 355 of 928 candidates, or 38%, had reported similar cases.

A total of 201 candidates, or 23%, have declared serious criminal cases against themselves this time, as compared to 18%, in 2021.

Among the major parties, the highest proportion of candidates with declared criminal cases is from the Congress, with 72 of 85 candidates, or 85%. This is followed by the Indian Union Muslim League, with 21 of 25 candidates, or 84%, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), with 51 of 77 candidates, or 66%.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded 59 of 93 candidates, or 63%, with declared criminal cases, while the Communist Party of India has 13 of 24 candidates, or 54%.

Five of 12 candidates, or 42%, from Kerala Congress (Mani) and six of eight candidates, or 75%, from Kerala Congress have declared such cases.

One candidate each from the Nationalist Congress Party, Kerala Congress (B) and Kerala Congress (Jacob) has declared criminal cases.

Among serious criminal cases, the Congress has the highest share, with 60 of 85 candidates, or 71%,...

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