33% candidates in WB's polls have criminal cases

Out of the 18 candidates in fray in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, 33% (or 6) have declared that they have serious criminal cases against them.

The data was revealed in a study of the affidavits filed by the candidates. The study was conducted by the West Bengal Election Watch, an independent apolitical organisation, and released on Friday.

“Out of the 18 candidates analysed, 6 (33%) have declared criminal cases against them,” stated the report. Topping the list in terms of declared criminal cases is the BJP candidate from Cooch Behar Nitish Pramanik. He has declared 11 criminal cases against him and is booked under 21 serious sections of the IPC, including murder (Section 302), attempt to murder (Section 307), assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty (Section 354).

Pramanik is followed by another BJP candidate John Barla, who has been fielded from the Alipurduar Lok Sabha seat. He has nine declared criminal cases against him and is booked under 29 serious sections of the IPC, including attempt to murder and voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty (Section 333).

The study also revealed that out of the 18 candidates, eight have not declared their Income Tax Return details. Among them, two are from Trinamool Congress (TMC), two from BJP, two from Congress, one from Forward Bloc and an Independent.

The first phase of elections on April 11 will be held in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar Lok Sabha seats. While in Cooch Behar the total number of electorate is 18,10,658, in Alipurduar there are 16,43,616 voters. Voting will be held in 3,844 polling booths.