1452 poll candidates face criminal cases in 5 states: Report

New Delhi, Nov 28: Of the 8.051 candidates analysed in five states who contested the Assembly elections, as many as 1,452 have criminal cases registered against them, while 959 are facing serious charges, a report revealed on Tuesday.

The study was undertaken by the National Election Watch and Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) which analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 8,051 out of 8,054 candidates who contested in the five states Assembly elections of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana.

As per the report, three candidates from Chhattisgarh were not analysed due to unclear affidavits available on the Election Commission of India (ECI) website at the time of making this report.

The report said that out of 8,051 candidates analysed, 2,117 are from national parties, 537 -- state parties, 2,051 -- registered unrecognized parties and 3,346 candidates are contesting independently.

"Of the 8051 candidates analysed, a total of 1,452 have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits," the report said.

It also said, "959 candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves."

The report stated that 22 candidates in five states have declared cases related to murder, while 82 have declared cases related to attempt to murder and 107 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women.

"Of the 107 candidates, five have declared cases related to rape," the report said.

It also said that in Mizoram 174 candidates contested for the 40-member Assembly in November 7 polls, while 1,181 contested in the 90-member Assembly in Chhattisgarh which went for polling in two phases on November 7 and 17.

In Madhya Pradesh, 2,534 candidates contested for November 17 polls for the 234-member Assembly while for 200 member assembly in Rajasthan 1,875 candidates were in poll fray.