By Bula Devi / New Delhi : The five-phased Jharkhand assembly elections will kick off from November 30. The main political parties contesting the election include BJP, Congress, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), All Jharkhand Students Union, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal (United).
The Jharkhand Election Watch (JEW) and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 189 candidates in fray for the first phase. Of the total candidates, 26 have criminal cases against them which are serious and 44 candidates have criminal cases.
As per the 189 candidates’ financial background is concerned, 59 are crorepatis and average assets of candidates is Rs 1.85 crore.
Party that tops in the percentage wise ranking of candidates with serious criminal cases is Congress. Its three candidates out of six analysed are involved in serious cases as per their self sworn affidavits. This means that 50 per cent of the candidates in fray have serious criminal cases against them, according to the JEW and ADR.
Next in queue is JD(U) and BJP. Of the 24 candidates analysed, 12 each fielded by BJP and JD(U), four candidates each belonging to these two parties have serious criminal cases.
Lastly, it is the JVM(P)’s three out of 13 candidates analysed, which means 23 per cent, have serious criminal cases against them.
However, JMM has highest number of candidates with background of criminal cases against them. The analysis does not indicate these cases are serious in nature. However, the percentage of candidates with criminal case background is as high as 75.
In the second phase of elections which falls on December 7, JEW and ADR analysed self sworn affidavits of all 260 candidates. After analysis it turned out that of the 260 candidates who are in fray, as many as 44 candidates have criminal cases against them which are serious in nature.
If 11 per cent of the candidates have serious cases against them, 67 candidates which is 26 per cent of the total number of candidates in fray, have criminal cases against them as per their affidavits.
As many as 46, which is 18 per cent of the total number of candidates, are crorepatis.
Congress once again tops the list in the partywise ranking of candidates with serious criminal cases which is three out of six candidates in fray analysed. It is followed by JMM with five out of 14 candidates having same issue.
BJP and JVM(P), both have five candidates each out of 20 candidates these parties have separately fielded under their respective symbols and analysed by the organisations.
A lone candidate out of 12 fielded by AJSU has serious criminal case against him.
Out of 260 candidates, four have declared cases related to crime against women, and one of them has even declared cases related to rape.