As many as 67 out of 345 candidates contesting in the phase 2 Assam Assembly Elections declared criminal cases against themselves, as per the Assam Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on March 23, 2021.

According to the ADR report, 30 candidates (9 percent) contesting across 39 constituencies in the state declared serious criminal cases against themselves, while 37 (11 percent) candidates declared criminal charges in their self-sworn affidavits.

Among major political parties, 11 out of 34 Bharatiya Janata Party-BJP candidates (32 percent) face criminal charges and 10 candidates (29 percent) are charged with serious criminal cases. In the case of the Indian National Congress-INC, 5 out of 28 candidates (18 percent) declared criminal charges and 2 persons (7 percent) faced serious charges.

Meanwhile, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has 7 candidates of whom 5 candidates (71 percent) and 3 candidates (43 percent) face criminal and serious criminal charges. Political parties such as the Asom Gana Parishad (6 candidates) and the Assam Jatiya Parishad (19 candidates) have 2 candidates (33 percent) and 3 candidates (16 percent) facing criminal charges repseticely. Similarly, 2 AGP candidates and 3 AJP candidates face serious criminal charges.

Other parties such as AIFB, SUCI (C) and United Peoples Party Liberal have one candidate in each category.

Out of all candidates, three persons have declared cases related to crime against women. One person is charged with cases related to sexual assault. Three candidates face murder cases while two candidates are charged with attempt to murder.

Regarding constituencies, 2 concerned areas (5 percent) are Red alert constituencies where three or more contesting candidates have criminal cases. Accordingly, the report noted that parties ignored the Supreme Court directions of February 13, 2020 instructing them to reason selection of individuals with criminal antecedents. Reasons for such selection has to be with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned.

“Political parties in selection of candidates in Phase II of the Assam Assembly Elections 2021… have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 11 percent candidates with criminal cases. All major parties… have given tickets ranging from 16 percent to 71 percent candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves,” said the report.

During recent Bihar Assembly elections in October, 2020 it was observed that political parties gave unfounded and baseless reasons like popularity of the person, social work, or claims of politically-motivated cases.

“These are not sound and cogent reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds. This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers,” said the ADR.

Regarding financial background, it said that 73 out of the 345 candidates (21 percent) are crorepatis with 21 people having assets above Rs. 5 crores and 28 people with assets between Rs. 2-5 crores.

As many as 19 out of 34 BJP candidates (56 percent,) 18 out of 28 INC candidates (56 percent), 6 out of 19 AJP candidates (32 percent), 5 out of 7 AIUDF candidates (71 percent), 3 out of 4 Bodoland Peoples Front candidates (75 percent) and 3 out of 6 AGP candidates (50 percent) declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.

Overall, the average of assets per candidate is Rs. 2.19 crores with party-wise average asserts as follows: Rs. 2.74 crores for 34 BJP candidates; Rs 4.78 crores for 28 INC candidates; Rs 88.70 lakhs for 19 Assam Jatiya Parishad candidates; Rs 21.25 crores for 7 AIUDF candidates; Rs 1.13 Crore for 6 AGP candidates; Rs. 25.43 Lakhs for 13 SUCI (C) candidates.

Further details about candidates may be read here:

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