GUWAHATI, March 26 � Compared to the 2006 Assembly elections where 6 per cent candidates contesting the polls had criminal cases against them, 11 per cent of the total number of candidates for the first phase of the ensuing elections has criminal cases pending against them.
This includes 14 contestants with serious criminal charges like murder and attempt to murder charges.
It needs mention here that as many as 62 constituencies are going to polls in the first phase of Assembly elections.
Among the major political parties, 17 per cent of AIUDF candidates have criminal charges against them, while the percentage stands at 14 per cent and 10 per cent for Asom Gana Parishad and the Bharatiya Janata Party respectively.
Five per cent of the candidates fielded by the Congress in the first phase of polls have criminal charges.
These analysis, based on the affidavits filed by the candidates with the Election Commission, were made public by Association for Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch today at a press conference.
The forum, which has analyzed 331 candidates, also disclosed that a total of 50 candidates are crorepatis.
Anir Beriwal, national co-ordinator of National Election Watch, talking to media persons, said, �We would soon come up with statistics showing the growth of assets of sitting MLAs contesting for the second or more time.�
He also informed that they have put up a toll free number (1800110440) where voters can have easy access to details of each and every candidate contesting the polls.
