NEW DELHI, March 23: Eleven per cent of the 345 candidates contesting in the second phase of the Assam Assembly elections this year have declared criminal cases against themselves, stated a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The Assam Election Watch and the ADR have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all the 345 candidates contesting the polls to be held on April 1.
“Out of the 345 candidates analysed, 37 (11 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves and 30 (9 per cent) candidates have serious criminal cases against themselves,” the report said.
The ADR also gave the financial status of the contesting candidates, and out of the 345 candidates, 73 (21 per cent) candidates are crorepatis.
Among the major parties, 11 out of 34 candidates analysed from the BJP, five out of 28 candidates from the Congress, five out of seven candidates from the AIUDF, two out of six candidates from the AGP, three out of 19 candidates from the Assam Jatiya Parishad and one candidate each from the AIFB, SUCI(C) and United Peoples Party Liberal, have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits, the report said.
It said 10 out of 34 candidates analysed from the BJP, three out of 19 candidates from the Assam Jatiya Parishad, three out of seven candidates from the AIUDF, two out of six candidates from the AGP, two out of 28 candidates from the Congress and one candidate each from the AIFB, UPPL and SUCI(C), have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
It said three candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of these, one candidate has declared cases related to rape (IPC section 376).
Three candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC section 302) against themselves, while two candidates have declared cases related to ‘attempt to murder’ (IPC section 307) against themselves, it said.
The report also mentioned that two (5 per cent) out of 39 constituencies are ‘red alert’ constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where three or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
Among the major parties, the report said the average assets per candidate for 34 BJP candidates analysed is Rs 2.74 crore and for 28 Congress candidates, it is Rs 4.78 crore.
It said 19 Assam Jatiya Parishad candidates have average assets of Rs 88.70 lakh, seven AIUDF candidates Rs 21.25 crore, 6 AGP candidates Rs 1.13 crore and 13 SUCI(C) candidates Rs 25.43 lakh. – PTI