43% Congress, 32% BJP Lok Sabha candidates declare criminal cases against themselves

By A Representative
The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has found that, among the major parties, 16 (31%) out of 51 candidates from BJP, 23 (43%) out of 53 candidates from Congress, 16 (20%) out of 80 candidates from BSP, 3 (14%) out of 22 candidates analysed from AIADMK, and 11 (46%) out of 24 candidates from DMK have declared criminal cases against themselves.
Analysing individual affidavits filed by candidates fighting Lok Sabha elections in the second phase (April 18), ADR has further found that, among the major parties, 10 (20%) out of 51 candidates from BJP, 17 (32%) out of 53 candidates from INC, 10 (13%) out of 80 candidates from BSP, 3 (14%) out of 22 candidates analysed from AIADMK, and 7 (29%) out of 24 candidates from DMK have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
In all, ADR, in alliance with National Election Watch, has analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 1590 out of 1644 candidates, who are contesting in the Lok Sabha Phase II. As many as 54 candidates have not been analyzed due to unavailability of their properly scanned and complete affidavits. In all, 251(16%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, while 167 (11%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Three candidates have declared convicted cases against themselves, 6 candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section -302) against themselves, 25 candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section 307) against themselves, and 8 candidates have declared cases related to kidnapping such kidnapping for ransom, etc.
Further, 10 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women such as rape (IPC Section-376), assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty (IPC Section-354), husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty (IPC Section-498A) etc., against themselves. Further, 15 candidates have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves.

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