GUWAHATI, Feb 17 � The Election Watch Group of Assam, a wing of National Election Watch which aims at bringing transparency and accountability from the political parties, has voted against the candidature of seven sitting Members of Assam Legislative Assembly in the forthcoming Assembly election in the State.
The seven MLAs include those with pending criminal cases of serious nature.
The watch group during a press conference today singled out seven MLAs which include independent candidates Kushal Dowari (Thowra) and Siddeque Ahmed (South Karimganj), AIUDF candidates Rasul Haque (Dhubri) and Hazi Salimuddin Barbhuiya (Hailakandi), Asom Gana Parishad candidate Prodip Hazarika (Amguri), Congress candidate Abdur Rashid Mandal (West Goalpara) and independent M Baro (Kalaigaon).
Of the 16 candidates who contested 2006 Assembly elections in the State with criminal records, seven went on to win the elections.
The group informed that in case of all these public representatives, the court has taken cognizance of their offences.
The group also cast serious doubts over the authenticity of assets declaration by the Ministers.
�We want to disseminate information about the candidates in fray to the voters and expect them to make a conscious decision while exercising their franchise,� said Tasakduk Ariful Hussain, co-ordinator of Assam Election Watch, while releasing the analysis of criminal and financial details of candidates and MLAs from Assam based on the 2006 Assembly elections.
Hussain also urged the Election Commission to make discourse of source of incomes by public representative mandatory along with the value of their assets.
�The Income Tax department too has a role to play to see it to that public fund is not used for personal growth,� Hussain said.
