11% candidates in Phase-2 of Assam election have declared criminal records: ADR report

GUWAHATI: A study of the affidavits submitted by 345 candidates contesting in the second phase of the Assam Assembly elections has revealed that 37 of them, or about 11%, have declared their criminal records, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Assam Election Watch.

30, or about 9% of the candidates, have declared serious criminal cases against themselves, the report revealed.

Among the major parties, 11 (32%) out of 34 candidates analyzed from BJP, 5 (18%) out of 28 candidates analyzed from Congress,5 (71%) out of 7candidates analyzed from AIUDF, 2 (33%) out of 6 candidates analyzed from AGP, 3 (16%) out of 19 candidates analyzed from Assam Jatiya Parishad and one candidate each from AIFB, SUCI (C), and United People's Party Liberal have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Notably, 3 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of these 3 candidates, 1 candidate has declared cases related to rape.

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Among the major parties, 10 (29%)out of 34 candidates analyzed fromBJP, 3 (16%) out of 19 candidates analyzed from Assam Jatiya Parishad, 3 (43%) out of 7 candidates analyzed from AIUDF, 2 (33%) out of 6 candidates analyzed from AGP, 2 (7%) out of 28 candidates analyzed from Congress and one candidate each from AIFB, United People's Party Liberal and SUCI (C) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

2 (5%) out of 39 constituencies headed to the booths in the second phase are Red alert constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

It needs mention here that it is mandatory for political parties at the Central and State election level to upload on their website detailed information regarding candidates with pending criminal cases including the nature of the offences, relevant particulars like whether charges have been framed, the concerned Court, the case number, etc.

Political parties will also have to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates.

The reasons as to selection shall be with reference to the qualifications, achievements, and merit of the candidate concerned, and not mere “winnability” at the polls.