NEW DELHI, April 6 - Political parties may be pulling out all stops to woo voters, but only 13 per cent voters in Assam feel that distribution of cash, liquor, gifts, etc., was an important factor.
A survey by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) in Assam found only eight per cent felt it was important and five per cent very important factor in voting a particular candidate in an election.
According to the Assam Survey 2018, the highest percentage of voters said the candidate�s party was the most significant reason (important � 41 per cent and very important � 43 per cent) for voting for a candidate in an election.
While deciding which candidate to vote for in an election, 87 per cent Assam voters stated that their own opinion mattered the most, followed by voters for whom opinion of their family members (five per cent) and spouse (five per cent) mattered the most.
A large number of voters (78 per cent) knew that distribution of cash, gifts, etc., is illegal, while only 23 per cent voters said that they were aware of instances where such inducements were offered to the voters in return for their votes. At least 98 per cent voters felt that candidates with criminal background should not be in Parliament or State Assembly.
Merely 27 per cent voters knew that they could get information on criminal records of the candidates. In relation to voting candidates with criminal antecedents, three per cent voters felt that people vote for such candidates because the candidate otherwise does good work.
Other significant factors in voting for criminal candidates were that the candidate is powerful (37 per cent) and because the voters don�t know about the criminal record of the candidate (37 per cent).
In the opinion of 35 per cent voters, people vote for criminal candidates because they feel that the cases against such candidates are not of serious nature. At least 34 per cent voters felt people vote for criminal candidates as they spend generously on elections.
Caste and religious consideration are also a factor for 32 per cent voters in choosing candidates with criminal records.
