While 81 candidates running, the report analyzed the affidavits of 80 of them (representation)
New Delhi:
Of the 80 candidates vying for the Gujarat Assembly by-election on November 3, 18% declared criminal charges against themselves, according to a report by the voting rights group Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR ).
The report, which also gives details of the applicants’ financial history, says a total of 20 or 25 percent of them reported financial assets worth crore.
As 81 candidates contend for the election, the report is based on an analysis of affidavits provided by 80 of them.
Seven or 9 percent of the candidates declared serious criminal cases against themselves, while 14 or 18 percent declared criminal proceedings against themselves, according to the ADR report.
Serious criminal cases are offenses not punishable by more than five years’ imprisonment.
According to the report, one (50%) of the two candidates analyzed from the Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP), three (38%) of the eight candidates analyzed from the BJP, two (25%) of the eight candidates analyzed from The Congress and eight ( 15%) of the 53 independent candidates declared criminal proceedings against themselves in their affidavits.
Two (25%) of the eight constituencies are red alert constituencies, where at least three running candidates have declared criminal charges against themselves.
“The Supreme Court’s instructions had no effect on political parties in the selection of candidates as they again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 18 percent of candidates with criminal cases,” said The report.
“All of the main parties running in Gujarat’s by-elections have between 25 and 38 percent of candidates who have declared criminal charges against themselves,” he said.
The Supreme Court in February asked political parties to give reasons for the selection of candidates with criminal backgrounds and why other people without criminal backgrounds could not be selected.
Details of the applicants’ financial situation were also provided in the report.
“Of the 80 applicants, 20 (25%) are crorepatis. Eight (100%) of the eight candidates analyzed by the BJP, 6 (75%) of the eight candidates analyzed by Congress and 6 (11%) by the 53 independent candidates declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore ”, indicates the report.
The average assets per candidate is Rs 1.16 crore, he said.
“Among the major parties, the average assets per candidate for eight Congress candidates analyzed is Rs 4.38 crore, for eight BJP candidates analyzed is Rs 2.52 crores, two BTP candidates have average assets of Rs 17 , 85 lakhs and 53 independent candidates have average assets of Rs 70.52. Lakhs ”, he added.
Bypasses in the assembly seats of Abdasa, Limbdi, Morbi, Dhari, Gadhada, Karjan, Dang and Kaprada in Gujarat were necessary after the resignation of sitting congressmen.
The counting of the votes will take place on November 10.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
