West Bengal polls: 23% candidates in first phase have criminal cases against them

A total of 345 or 23% of the candidates in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves, the non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms said in a report on Tuesday.

The organisation analysed the affidavits of 1,475 out of the 1,478 candidates contesting the elections on Thursday.

Of these, 294 candidates or 20% have declared serious criminal cases. Ninety-eight candidates have cases related to crimes against women, while 19 have declared cases of murder, the report said.

Among major parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party has the highest proportion of candidates with declared criminal cases at 70%. Around 44% of candidates fielded by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have declared criminal cases.

In the ruling Trinamool Congress, 43% of candidates have declared criminal cases, while 26% of candidates fielded by the Congress face such charges.

The organisation defines serious criminal offences as those carrying a maximum punishment of five years or more, non-bailable offences, or cases involving loss to the public exchequer. This category includes offences such as assault, murder, kidnapping, rape and crimes against women or those mentioned in the Representation of the People Act. They also include offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

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