Lok Sabha polls: 16% of candidates contesting in first phase have criminal cases against them

A total of 252, or 16%, of the 1,618 candidates contesting in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections have criminal cases against them, non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms said in a report on Monday.

The organisation analysed the affidavits of 1,618 out of 1,625 candidates who are contesting in the first phase in 21 states.

The report showed that 161 persons have declared serious criminal cases registered against themselves.

Of the 252 candidates with criminal cases, seven have declared cases related to murder, 19 have cases of attempted murder and 18 are accused of crimes against women. Of the 18, one has declared cases related to rape.

Among the major parties, 22, or 36%, of the 77 candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party and 19, or 34%, of Congress candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

All four candidates of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, 13 of 22 candidates from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and three out of the seven candidates from the Samajwadi Party also have criminal cases against them.

Of the five candidates fielded by the Trinamool Congress for the first phase, two are accused in criminal cases. The number stands at 13 out of 36 candidates for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and 11 out of 86 candidates for the Bahujan...

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