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The Association for Democratic Reforms came out with the figures in a report after analysing affidavits of the candidates of 12 Lok Sabha seats that are going to polls. Vicky Nanjappa reports.
Pankaj Kumar Singh, an Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist Liberation candidate from Purnia constituency, Bihar has declared a case related buying minor for purposes of prostitution, etc. (Indian Penal Code section-373).
He is among the 11 others contesting the 6th phase of the elections to declare a case for a crime against women.
Phase six of the Lok Sabha elections will witness 321 candidates with a criminal background contesting the polls. Out of the 2,071 candidates analysed by the Association for Democratic Reforms 321 (15 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
Two hundred and four candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, robbery etc. Udayakumar S P of the Aam Aadmi Party from Kanyakumari constituency in Tamil Nadu has declared 382 criminal cases against himself followed by M Pushparayan of the same party from Thoothukkudi constituency with 380 criminal cases and Mu Anbhalagan of the Dravida Munetra Kazhagam from Tiruchirappalli constituency with 10 criminal cases.
Eleven candidates have declared cases related to murder while 40 have cases of attempt to murder.
Thirteen candidates have declared cases related to Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (IPC section-153A). Four candidates have declared cases related to deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs (IPC section-295A) and one candidate has declared a case related to Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class (IPC section-295).
Eight candidates have declared cases related to Prevention of Corruption Act. Seventeen candidates have declared cases related to electoral violations, while 12 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women.
Party wise candidates with serious criminal cases: 15 (16 per cent) out of 94 candidates from the Indian National Congress, 12 (16 per cent) out of 77 candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 9 (10 per cent) out of 91 candidates from the AAP, 17 (15 per cent) out of 111 candidates fielded by the Bahujan Samajwadi Party and 43 (4 per cent) out of 972 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Red alert constituencies: 55 constituencies have at least three candidates with declared criminal cases. The Raver constituency in Maharashtra has the highest number of contesting candidates -- 10 with criminal cases against them.
Financial background
Crorepati candidates: Out of the 2,071 candidates analysed, 504 (24 per cent) are crorepatis.
Party-wise crorepati candidates: 77 (82 per cent) out of 94 candidates in the INC, 58 (75 per cent) out of 77 candidates in the BJP, 41 (45 per cent) out of 91 candidates in the AAP and 30 (27 per cent) out of 111 candidates in the BSP and 71 (7 per cent) out of 972 Independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.
Average assets: The average assets per candidate contesting in the 6th phase of Lok Sabha 2014 elections is Rs 2.76 crore.
Party-wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 94 INC candidates is Rs 13.62 crore, 77 BJP candidates have average assets of Rs14.37 crore,91 AAP candidates have average assets worth of Rs 2.60 crore and 111 BSP candidates have average assets of Rs 2.32 crore.
Party-wise asset rank: 66 (70 per cent) out of 94 INC candidates occupy the top three highest assets positions amongst all the contesting candidates in their respective constituencies. Similarly, 54 (70 per cent) out of 77 BJP candidates, 20 (18 per cent) out of 111 BSP candidates and 20 (22 per cent) out of 91 AAP candidates occupy the top three highest assets positions in their constituency.