J&K Assembly Elections Phase 2: How Many Candidates Have Criminal Records?

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: According to affidavits submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI), nearly 20% of candidates in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections face criminal charges, including allegations of murder, rape, and other serious offences.

Which Party Candidates Are Facing Criminal Charges?

Among those with pending criminal cases, four candidates represent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), four are from the People's Democratic Party (PDP), two from Congress, and one from the National Conference (NC).

47 Candidates Facing Charges

Out of the 238 candidates contesting in the second phase, 47 are facing criminal charges. This includes seven accused of crimes against women, with one candidate charged with rape. Thirty-seven candidates are involved in other criminal cases, and three are accused of murder.

What Are 'Red-Alert' Constituencies?

The ECI has classified eight constituencies as "red-alert constituencies" due to the presence of three or more candidates with criminal charges, in accordance with its guidelines.

Educational Background and Age Distribution

The educational qualifications of candidates in this phase are generally low, with most having completed education between 5th and 12th grades. One candidate declared themselves illiterate.

• 114 candidates are graduates or hold higher qualifications, while six possess diploma-level education.
• 84 candidates are aged between 25-40, 105 fall in the 41-60 age bracket, and 49 are aged 61-80.

Women Representation

Only three female candidates are contesting in the second phase of the J&K Assembly elections.

Major Political Contenders

The primary contest in this phase is between the BJP and the NC-Congress alliance, with the PDP also vying for seats.

Voting Schedule

• Voting Date: The second phase will be held on September 25 (Wednesday), followed by the final phase on October 1 (Tuesday).
• Vote Counting: Results will be declared on October 8 (Saturday).

Following a recent delimitation, Jammu and Kashmir now has 90 Assembly seats, with 47 seats in the Kashmir division and 43 in the Jammu division. Among these, nine seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and seven for Scheduled Castes (SC).