Among the Congress candidates contesting the second phase of the Jharkhand Assembly polls, 67 per cent have criminal cases against them, according to data analyzed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The data revealed that 26 per cent of all the candidates in the fray for the December 7 elections have criminal cases against them, while 17 per cent have declared serious criminal cases.
In the second phase, Congress has fielded six candidates, out of which four have criminal cases while the BJP has eight candidates (40 per cent) with such cases among 20. Congress fielded the same number of candidates with criminal cases in the first phase.
Among the other major parties analyzed by the ADR, 50 per cent from JMM, 42 per cent from AJSU, 40 per cent from JVM-P have declared criminal cases against them in their affidavits.
When it comes to serious criminal charges against themselves, the Congress tops the chart as well, with 50 per cent candidates.
While 36 per cent are from the JMM, 25 per cent from the BJP, 25 per cent from JVM-P and just 8 per cent from AJSU.
Some of the politicians also have serious charges that pertain to crime against women. Four candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Of the four, one candidate has declared cases related to heinous crimes like rape.
Not just alleged rapists but alleged murderers are also contesting the second phase. Eight candidates have declared that they have cases under IPC Section-307 which pertain to attempt to murder. Meanwhile, four have declared cases of murder against them. There are three candidates who have conceded that they have earlier been convicted of crimes.
The Jharkhand Election Watch and ADR have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 260 candidates who are contesting the second phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections.
Jharkhand is going for the second phase of Assembly polls on December 7. The state is holding a five-phases election owing to Maoist violence.
Jharkhand will be the third BJP-ruled state to hold elections in 2019, after Maharashtra and Haryana, which voted on October 21.
