Out of 1,195 candidates analyzed, 371 declared criminal proceedings against themselves (representation)
New Delhi:
Of 1,195 candidates running in Phase 3 of Bihar’s assembly elections later this week, 31% have declared criminal charges against themselves, according to a report by the voting rights group Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
About 282, or 24%, reported serious criminal charges against themselves. Serious criminal cases are non-punishable offenses punishable by more than five years in prison, according to the report.
As many as 361 or 30 percent of those applicants said their financial assets were worth crore rupees, according to the report.
Out of 1,195 candidates analyzed, 371, or 31%, declared criminal proceedings against themselves, he said.
According to the report, 32 (73%) of the 44 candidates analyzed by the RJD declared criminal proceedings against themselves and 22 (50%) of them declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
About 26 (76%) of the 34 candidates analyzed by the BJP reported criminal charges against themselves and 22 (65%) reported serious criminal charges against themselves in their affidavits, according to the report.
He said about 19 (76%) of the 25 candidates analyzed by Congress declared criminal prosecutions against themselves and 14 (56%) declared serious criminal prosecutions against themselves in their affidavits.
About 18 (43%) of the 42 candidates analyzed from the LJP, 21 (57%) of the 37 candidates analyzed from the JD (U) and 5 (26%) of the 19 candidates analyzed from the BSP declared criminal prosecutions against themselves in their affidavits. .
Eleven (26%) of 42 candidates analyzed from LJP, 11 (30%) of 37 candidates analyzed from JD (U) and 4 (21%) of 19 candidates analyzed from BSP reported serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
As many as 37 candidates reported cases related to crimes against women and five of them reported cases related to rape, according to the report.
The report states that 20 candidates reported murder-related cases (IPC Section-302) against themselves and 73 candidates reported attempted murder-related cases (IPC Section-307) against themselves.
As many as 72 (92%) of the 78 constituencies are red alert constituencies, that is, those where three or more candidates have declared criminal proceedings against themselves, he said.
The report’s conclusions were unveiled at a press briefing organized by ADR.
Jagdeep Chhokar, founding member and administrator of ADR and National Election Watch, said the Supreme Court’s instructions had “no effect” on political parties in selecting candidates because they had again followed their old practice of giving tickets to criminal candidates. case.
“All of the major parties contending in Bihar’s Phase III elections have given tickets to 26-76% of the candidates who have declared criminal charges against themselves,” he said.
The Supreme Court, in its instructions in February, had asked political parties to give reasons for the selection of candidates with criminal backgrounds and why other people without a criminal background could not be selected as candidates.
“These data clearly show that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and that our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of violators who become lawmakers,” Chhokar said.
Details of the applicants’ financial situation were also given in the report.
“Of the 1,195 applicants, 361 (30%) are crorepatis. Among the main parties, 31 (91%) of 34 candidates analyzed by the BJP, 17 (68%) of 25 candidates analyzed by Congress, 35 (80%) of 44 candidates analyzed from RJD, 30 (81%) out of 37 candidates analyzed from JD (U), 31 (74%) out of 42 candidates analyzed from LJP and 10 (53%) of 19 candidates from BSP reported assets worth more than Rs 1 crore The report says.
The average assets per candidate running in Phase III of the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections is Rs 1.47 crore, according to the report.
“Among the major parties, the average assets per candidate for 25 INC candidates analyzed is Rs. 2.57 crores, 37 JD (U) candidates analyzed is Rs 3.31 crores, 44 RJD candidates have average assets of Rs 4.79 crores, 42 LJP applicants have average assets of Rs 3.14 crores, 34 BJP applicants have average assets of Rs 3.86 crores and 19 BSP applicants have average assets worth Rs. 3.36 crores, “he said.
The Bihar Assembly elections are held in three phases for a total of 243 seats – the first phase for 71 seats on October 28, the second phase for 94 seats on November 3 and the third phase for the remaining 78 seats will be held on November. 7. Results will be announced on November 10th.
