First list: Which party tops in candidates with criminal records?

Various political parties have released their first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. But how do they fare in the criminal case barometer? Vicky Nanjappa finds out.  

According to the Association for Democratic Reforms, out of 70 candidates analysed, 34 candidates (49 per cent) had declared in all 224 criminal cases against them in their previous election affidavit. 

Of these, the Shiv Sena is currently leading . Out of the 14 declared by them in the first list 12 have a criminal background, the ADR has said. 

The Shiv Sena has 12 out of 14 candidates (86 per cent) with criminal cases, the Bharatiya Janata Party has 13 out of 32 (41 per cent) candidates with criminal cases, the Nationalist Congress Party has 8 out of 13 (62 per cent) candidates with criminal cases and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has 1 out of 6 (17 per cent) candidate with criminal cases.

Twenty candidates (29 per cent) out of 70 analysed had declared serious criminal cases in their previous election affidavits. Seven out of 14 (50 per cent) candidates of the Shiv Sena have declared serious criminal cases, 5 out of 13 (38 per cent) candidates of the NCP, 7 out of 32 (22 per cent) candidates of the BJP and 1 out of 6 (17 per cent) candidates of the AIADMK have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Four candidates had declared cases of murder, attempt to murder in their election affidavits. Bhonsle Shrimant Chhatrapati Udyanraje Pratapsinh (sitting member of Parliament) of the NCP from Satara constituency had declared a charge of murder.

Two candidates of the Shiv Sena -- Eknath Shinde (sitting member of the legislative assembly, Maharashtra) from the Kalyan constituency and Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil (sitting MP) from Shirur constituency -- had declared a charge of attempt to murder.

Dhananjay Mahadik of the NCP from the Kolhapur constituency had declared a charge related to culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended.

Kirit Somaiya of the BJP had declared a charge of dacoity against himself. Three candidates had declared cases related to kidnapping in their previous election affidavits. Pratapsinh and Gopinath Munde of the BJP (Beed constituency) have declared a case related to kidnapping.

Sanjay Jadhav (sitting MLA) of the Shiv Sena from the Parbhani constituency had declared two charges related to illegal payments in connection with an election and one charge related to failure to keep election accounts in his previous election affidavit.

Financial:

The average assets of 70 candidates analysed is Rs 5.76 crore. The average assets of 13 NCP candidates is Rs 17.10 crore followed by five candidates of the Shiromani Akali Dal with average assets of Rs 16.30 crore, 14 candidates of the Shiv Sena with average assets of Rs 2.16 crore, 32 candidates of the BJP with average assets of Rs 1.81 crore and six candidates of the AIADMK with average assets of Rs 1.89 crore.

Out of 70 candidates, 36 candidates (51 per cent) have declared total assets (self assets and others assets) of more than Rs 1 crore.

Four out of five SAD candidates (80 per cent) followed by nine out of 13 (69 per cent) candidates of the NCP, nine out of 14 (64 per cent) candidates of the Shiv Sena, 13 out of 32 (41 per cent) candidates of the BJP and one out of 6 (17 per cent) candidates of the AIADMK have declared total assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.

Praful Patel (sitting MP) of the NCP from the Bhandara-Gondiya constituency has declared the highest assets among the 70 candidates analysed, at Rs 125.46 crore followed by Harsimrat Kaur Badal (sitting MP) of the SAD from Bathinda constituency with assets worth Rs 60.31 crore and Supriya Sule (sitting MP) of the NCP from Baramati constituency with assets worth Rs. 50.45 crore.

Image: Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray speaks at a rally. Photograph: Sahil Salvi