The Congress' Mumbai South Lok Sabha candidate Milind Deora Monday referred to criminal charges against his opponent and sitting Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant and asked voters if they wanted to be represented by a person with such a record.

Pointing to Sawant's affidavit, Deora said there are 13 criminal charges against the Shiv Sena leader and demanded that the sitting MP explain if he tried to "abuse and misuse" his influence in the Maharashtra government to get the cases withdrawn.

According to Deora's affidavit, there is no criminal case pending against him.

"People of South Mumbai have to decide whether they would like to vote and be represented in the Parliament by an individual who has a criminal record that demonstrates his disregard for law," a statement quoted Deora as saying.

"Can such a person be sitting in parliament as a lawmaker representing the socially conscious and economically prestigious South Mumbai parliamentary constituency?" he asked.

Mumbai Congress chief Deora later alleged in a tweet that Sawant skipped 16 hearings of a fast track court set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to try elected representatives with criminal charges.

"Is this delay an attempt to put pressure on the government to withdraw charges?" he asked.

Noting that the Election Commission has made it mandatory for candidates, who have criminal records, to publish the same in three newspapers, Deora said, "Sawant should immediately place his advertisements and honour the Election Commission rules," Deora said.

Sawant could not be reached for comments.

Mumbai votes in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 29.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)