Chh'garh: 98 out of 840 candidates for Phase II face criminal charges

Raipur, Nov 9: Ahead of the two-phase assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Chhattisgarh Election Watch (CEW) released a report stating that 98 out of the 840

contesting the second phase of the elections in the state have criminal charges pending against them, whereas 60 candidates are facing serious criminal cases filed against them.

This result was found on an analysis of the affidavits of the 840 candidates who will contest for the 72 Assembly constituencies in the second phase.

In percentages, about 12 percent of the contestants in fray for the November 19 elections are guilty of criminal charges. In a party-wise break-up, this equals 16 candidates from the Congress, 10 candidates from the BJP, 12 candidates from the BSP and 9 candidates from the Chhattisgarh Swabhiman Manch who have criminal charges against them.

Highest asset (Rs 561.5 Cr)declared is of Tribhuneshwar Sharan Singh of Congress

This report is significant in the light of a recent Supreme Court ruling that makes any candidate found criminally guilty, subject to immediate disqualification as sitting MP or MLA.

In an asset analysis by these two agents, 188 out of the 840 candidates, or 22 percent candidates have been found to be billionaires, whereas the average asset of each candidate is a whopping 1.56 crore rupees.

The highest asset (Rs. 561.5 crore) declared is of Tribhuneshwar Sharan Singh Dev of the Congress, contesting from the Ambikapur constituency. It has been proven further that 367 candidates in the second phase elections have not furnished any detail of their income tax PAN.

This report will have adverse effects on the voters in Chhattisgarh.

OneIndia News

(With agency inputs)