Gujarat Phase 1 election: 104 criminals, 147 crorepatis

The first phase of the Gujarat assembly elections will have 104 candidates with a criminal record, says a data analysed by the National Election Watch.

Assessing the information provided by candidates who had filed their nominations for the first phase of elections on December 13, the National Election Watch stated the following:

Out of the 482 candidates analysed for the 1st phase of elections, 104 candidates or 22 per cent declared criminal cases against them. In the 2007 elections, 23 per cent candidates had declared criminal cases against themselves.

Amongst major parties, every party has given tickets to candidates who have declared criminal cases.

INC has 27 out of 83 (33%), BJP 22 out of 87 (25%), BSP 7 out of 78 (9 %), JD-U 7 out of 29 (24 %), SP 5 out of 19 (26%), NCP 2 out of 3 (67%) and GPP 21 out of 83 (25 %) candidates with declared criminal cases.

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Out of these 104 candidates with declared criminal cases, 46 have declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion etc.

GPP has 11, INC has 8, BJP has 9, JD (U) has 6, NCP has 2 and BSP has 1 such candidates.

Charges have been framed against 73 candidates, which include cases like kidnapping, murder and dacoity.

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The following candidates have declared serious criminal cases of murder, kidnapping and theft against them:

(1) Vasava Chhotubhai Amarsinh (of JD-U from Jhagadia (ST) constituency) has declared three charges of murder and 1 charge related to attempt to murder.

(2) Maheshbhai chhotubhai Vasava (of JD-U from Dediapada (ST) constituency) has declared two charges related to murder and 1 charge related to attempt to murder  

(3) Patel Altaf Gafurbhai (of JD(U) contesting from Vagra constituency) has declared 1 charge related to murder

(4) Somani Jitendrabhai Kantilal (BJP) from Wankaner constituency has declared two charges relating to attempt to murder

(5) Arjunbhai Laljibhai Gamit (JD-U) contesting from Nizar (ST) constituency too has declared two charges relating to attempt to murder amongst other charges.

(6) Barad Jashabhai Bhanabhai (INC) from Somnath constituency has declared that he has cases registered against him under the 'Prevention of Corruption Act'.

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National Election Watch also analysed the financial and background details of the candidates contesting in the first phase of the elections.

* A total of 147 candidates out of 482 analyzed (30%) are crorepatis. In 2007, there were 21 per cent of the candidates were candidates.

* The top three candidates who have declared the highest assets are Rajguru Indranil Sanjaybhai (Congress) from Rajkot East constituency who has declared assets worth Rs 122 crore followed by Chavada Javaharbhai Pethalajibhai (Congress) from Manavadar constituency with Rs 82 crore and Parmar Rajabhai Parbatbhai of the BSP from Somnath constituency with assets worth Rs 40 crore.

* A total of 39 candidates out of 482 analysed have declared assets less than Rs 1 lakh. The three candidates with lowest assets are Mineshbhai Maganbhai Patel of GPP from Valsad constituency, who has declared that he has zero assets, followed by Independent candidate Bismilla Abdulkhan Pathan from Rajkot South constituency with assets worth Rs 1000 only.

* A total of 47 candidates out of 482 analysed have declared liabilities of Rs 50 lakh or above. The top three candidates with highest liabilities are Rajguru Indranil Sanjaybhai, Congress candidate from Rajkot East who has declared the highest liabilities worth Rs 27.14 crore followed by Jitendrabhai Kantilal Somani of BJP from Wankaner constituency with liabilities of Rs 17.69 crore and Kamabhai Gagjibhai Rathod (BJP candidate from Sanand constituency) with liabilities of Rs. 12.45 crore.

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Other Observations:

* 103 (21 per cent) out of 482 candidates analysed in the first phase of elections have not declared their PAN details.

* Six crorepati candidates have not declared their PAN details.

* A total of 139 (29 per cent) candidates (out of 482 analysed) are graduate or with higher educational qualification.

* Out of 482 contesting candidates, the number of female candidates is 27 (6%). In 2007, the figure was 46 out of 553, i.e. only 8% for the whole state.

* A total of 17 candidates out of 482 are over 65 years old.

* 85 candidates who fought the elections in 2007 are in the fray again

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