18 % nominees in second phase of WB polls have criminal cases

Kolkata, Apr 12: Altogether 18 per cent candidates fighting in the second phase of West Bengal Assembly polls have criminal cases against them.

"Among 383 candidates, 68 (18 per cent) have declared criminal cases against themselves. Of these, 59 candidates have serious criminal cases including those relating to murder, attempt to murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery, crimes against women etc," a report by West Bengal Election Watch said.

Five candidates have declared six cases of attempt to murder in their affidavits filed before the Election Commission, it said. Altogether 56 constituencies will go to polls on April 17 in the second phase.

BJP and ruling Trinamool Congress with 13 each have the most numbers of candidates facing criminal charges, followed by CPI(M) with 11 and the Congress with 6 candidates.

Analysis of the net worth of the candidates show that 56 of them are 'crorepatis' with Rs 54.2 lakh being the average of assets owned by them.

Former India football captain and Trinamool candidate from Siliguri Baichung Bhutia, with declared assets in excess of Rs 17.41 crore, is the richest one in this phase, the report stated.

Trinamool has the most 23 crorepatis followed by BJP with 10. Congress has eight such candidates, while CPI(M) has put up only one crorepati in this phase of polling.

PTI