Lok Sabha elections: 21% candidates contesting sixth phase face criminal cases
Total 39% of the candidates contesting the polls on May 25 have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore, the Association for Democratic Reforms said.
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Twenty-one percent, or 180 out of the 866 candidates contesting the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 25 have declared criminal cases against themselves, non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms said in a report on Thursday.
The Association for Democratic Reforms and the National Election Watch analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 866 out of the 869 candidates contesting in the sixth phase in seven states.
Polling will take place in Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
The report found that 141, or 16% out of 866 candidates, have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
The poll watchdog classified serious criminal offences as those that have a maximum punishment of five years or more, are non-bailable, or related to loss to exchequer. Serious offences also include assault, murder, kidnap, rape related, or those mentioned in the Representation of the People Act. They also include offences under Prevention of Corruption Act and crimes against women.
Twelve candidates in the sixth phase have declared cases where they have been convicted, according to the report. Six candidates have declared cases related to murder against themselves. While 21 candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder, 16 have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves.
The analysis also found that 24 candidates...
