LS polls: 279 tainted candidates to contest in fifth phase

The Association for Democratic Reforms in its report has stated that Maharashtra’s Beed district tops the list of red alert constituencies with 9 tainted candidates contesting the elections.

An analysis of 1,739 candidates contesting the elections in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election states there are 279 tainted candidates. The list also states that there are 173 candidates who have serious charges pending against them which include, rape, robbery, murder and attempt to murder.

12 candidates have pending murder charges against them while 27 have been charged with attempt to murder. There are 12 candidates who have charges relating to crimes against women. Dambale Rahul Dharma an independent from the Pune constituency has declared that he has rape charges pending against him.

22 (22 per cent) out of 101 candidates from INC, 30 (29 per cent) out of 105 candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party, 16 (15 per cent) out of 108 candidates from Aam Aadmi Party, 22 (19 per cent) out of 118 candidates fielded by Bahujan Samaj Party and 66 (10 per cent) out of 680 Independent candidates have declared in their affidavits that they have cases against them.

7 (7 per cent) out of 101 candidates from Indian National Congress, 14 (13 per cent) out of 105 candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party, 10 (9 per cent) out of 108 candidates from AAP, 13(11 per cent) out of 118 candidates fielded by BSP and 48 (7 per cent) out of 680 Independent candidates have declared serious charges against them.

43 constituencies have at least 3 candidates with cases against them. 

Out of the 1,739 candidates analysed, 465 (27 per cent) are crorepatis. 87 (86 per cent) out of 101 candidates in INC, 87 (83 per cent) out of 105 candidates in BJP, 46 (43 per cent) out of 108 candidates in AAP and 32 (27 per cent) out of 118 candidates in BSP and 66 (10 pre cent) out of 680 Independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.

The average assets per candidate contesting the 5th phase of Lok Sabha elections is Rs 8.14 crore. Among the major parties, the average assets per candidate for 101 INC candidates is Rs 89.89 crore, 105 BJP candidates have average assets of Rs 11.35 crore, 108 AAP candidates have average assets worth of Rs 3.48 crore and 118 BSP candidates have average assets of Rs 1.73 crore.

84 (83 per cent) out of 101 INC candidates occupy the top three assets positions amongst all the contesting candidates in their respective constituencies. Similarly, 85 (81 pre cent) out of 105 BJP candidates, 23 (19 per cent) out of 118 BSP candidates and 29 (27 per cent) out of 108 AAP candidates occupy the top three asset positions in their constituency.

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