Assam Assembly polls: Serious criminal charges against 9% of phase 2 candidates, says report

Nine per cent of the 345 candidates contesting in the second phase of the Assam assembly elections this year have declared criminal cases against themselves, a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said.

The Assam Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all the 345 candidates contesting in the polls to be held on April 1.

The report said that out of the 345 candidates analysed, 37 (11 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves and 30 (9 per cent) serious criminal cases against themselves.

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Among the major parties, 10 (29 per cent) out of 34 candidates analysed from BJP, 3 (16 per cent) out of 19 candidates analysed from Assam Jatiya Parishad, 3 (43 per cent) out of 7 candidates analysed from AIUDF, 2 (33 per cent) out of 6 candidates analysed from AGP, 2 (7 per cent) out of 28 candidates analysed from Congress and one candidate each from AIFB, United Peoples Party Liberal and SUCI(C) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Credit: Association for Democratic Reforms.

Meanwhile, 11 (32 per cent) out of 34 candidates analysed from BJP, 5 (18 per cent) out of 28 candidates analysed from Congress, 5 (71 per cent) out of 7 candidates analysed from AIUDF, 2 (33 per cent) out of 6 candidates analysed from AGP, 3 (16 per cent) out of 19 candidates analysed from Assam Jatiya Parishad and One candidate each from AIFB, SUCI(C) and United Peoples Party Liberal have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Three candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of 3 candidates, 1 candidate has declared cases related to rape. Three candidates have declared cases related to murder against themselves.

The report said that the directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in the selection of candidates in Phase II of the Assam Assembly Elections 2021 as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 11% of candidates with criminal cases. All major parties contesting in Assam phase II elections have given tickets ranging from 16 % to 71% of candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves.

The ADR recommended permanent disqualification of candidates convicted for heinous crimes like murder, rape, smuggling, dacoity, kidnapping etc. It also recommended disqualification of persons from contesting elections to the public offices against whom charges have been framed for having committed serious criminal offences punishable by imprisonment of at least 5 years, and the case is filed at least 6 months prior to the election in question.