Number of candidates with criminal charges up in Assam

Candidates with serious criminal charges contesting Assam Assembly elections have increased from 37 in 2011 to 57 this time, according to a private election watchdog.

The number of crorepati candidates almost doubled this time compared to the last Assembly elections.The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said that less number of candidates contested in the 2011 Assam Assembly Election with serious criminal record in comparison to 2016 polls.

This time, 57 or 5% of candidates have serious criminal records as against 37 or 4% of candidates in 2011.

The Congress, which had four contestants with serious charges in 2011 polls, now have nine such candidates. Same is the case with BJP, rise from four to seven. AIUDF had nine such candidates last time, while it has ten candidates now.

On the wealth front, there were 120 crorepati candidates, while it has risen to 237 this time. The Congress had 44 crorepati candidates last time, while it has 65 now. The BJP has 42 in place of ten last time.

In this election, the analysis showed that 51% candidates are undergraduate while it was 48% in 2011. There is an increase in the number of post-graduate candidates from 123 to 140. However, the number of candidates with doctorates has declined to seven from 14.

Of the total 1,062 candidates, only 91 are women. This is a slight rise from 81 last time.