64 candidates with pending criminal charges contesting bye-elections

According to a report released by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW), 64 candidates with self declared pending criminal charges contesting assembly bye elections on September 10 and15 in 7 states. Out of these 64 candidates, 15 candidates have declared murder and attempt to murder charges pending against them (maximum from Bihar).

National Election Watch has asked the voters to reject candidates with pending criminal charges against them

NEW is a nationwide campaign comprising of more than 1200 NGOs and other citizen led organizations, has been working on electoral reforms, improving democracy and governance in India.

Out of total 329 contesting candidates, NEW has analysed affidavits of 202 candidates contesting from 32 constituencies in 7 states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Delhi for state bye-assembly elections being held on September 10 & 15, 2009. Complete affidavits

of Sikkim were not available online.

According to their observation, total number of affidavits analyzed from 7 states are 202. Total number of Candidates with pending criminal charges is 64. Out of these 64 candidates, 32 candidates have serious IPC charges pending against them.

Maximum no of candidates with pending criminal charges contesting elections are from Bihar (45 out of 123, 36.49 %). It is followed by Gujarat where 9 (out of 24, 37.50%) candidates have pending criminal charges against them.

Of the political parties, Congress has fielded 13 (out of 31, 41.94%) candidates with pending criminal charges. It is followed by RJD 9 (out of 12, 75%). BJP and JD (U) have fielded 5 candidates each (out of 17 & 11, 29.41% & 45.45% respectively) with pending criminal charges.

Candidates with pending serious charges like murder, attempt to murder, theft etc party wise- Congress - 6, RJD-4, JD (U)-4, CPI-3, NCP, LJSP & CPI (M) (L) L – 2 each & BJJD-1. There are 15 candidates with murder and attempt to murder charges pending against them. Out of these 13 are from Bihar and 1 each is from Delhi and Gujarat.

Out of 202 candidates 19 are crorepatis. Maximum crorepatis are from Congress (5 out of 31, 16.13%) followed by NCP (2 out of 7, 28.57%), BJP (2 out of 17, 11.76%), JD (U) (2 out of 11, 18.18%) and RJD (2 out of 12, 16.67%).

The top three candidates with highest assets are Mr. Wasim Ahmad Gazi (Rs 14.11 crores) independent candidate from Okhla, Mr. Pardumn Rajput (Rs 11.93 crores)of BJP from Dwarka and Mr Braham Singh (Rs. 9.82 crores) of BSP from Okhla from NCT Delhi. Next highest assets are of Mr Vishwanath Prasad Gupta (Rs. 7.47 crores) of RJD from Munger, Bihar. Maximum crorepatis are contesting from Bihar (8 out of 123, 6.50%) followed by 7 (out of 23, 30.43%) from NCT of Delhi.

Maximum number of candidates with criminal background (7) are contesting from Begusarai, Bihar. It is followed by Nautan, Bihar with 6 such candidates.

Mr. Anjesh Kumar, State Coordinator, Bihar Election Watch said, “It is the sorry condition of the state assembly that comes forth from the current analysis. Bihar has maximum number of contestants with pending serious criminal charges against them for the upcoming bye elections. Presence of candidates with criminal background in our legislative bodies is a great threat to democracy. We request voters to check antecedents of the candidates before voting for them. ”

Mr. Jagdeep Chhokar, founder member of ADR and NEW said that, “ While every establishment in the country is in the process of making themselves more accountable to citizens, the political parties continue to function in the most irresponsible way by giving tickets to people of dubious background. The utmost need of the hour is to make our political parties more accountable by bringing in a law to regulate them”. (EOM)