2014 Lok Sabha Election -1/3rd candidates declared till March 02,2014 have criminal records

According to an official press release by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), one-third of the candidates announced by all political parties till March 02,2014 have a criminal record.

A total of 203 candidates were announced by various political parties as on March 2, 2014.

Out of these, 70 candidates had contested Assembly or Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha elections in the past.

 The ADR and National Election Watch checked the records of these 70 candidates through the affidavits submitted by them during previous elections.

The latest information regarding assets as well as criminal charges, if any, would be available once the candidates file their affidavits for 2014 Lok Sabha Elections.

Candidates with criminal cases: Out of 70 candidates analysed, 34 candidates (49 per cent) had declared a total of 224 criminal cases against themselves in their previous election affidavit. Shiv Sena has 12 out of 14 candidates (86 per cent) with criminal cases, BJP has 13 out of 32 (41 per cent) candidates with criminal cases, NCP has eight out of 13 (62 per cent) candidates with criminal cases and AIADMK has one out of six (17 per cent) candidates with criminal cases.

Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 20 candidates (29 per cent) out of 70 analysed had declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their previous election affidavits. 7 out of 14 (50%) candidates of Shiv Senahave declared serious criminal cases against themselves, 5 out of 13 (38%) candidates of NCP, 7 out of 32 (22%) candidates of BJP and 1 out of 6 (17%) candidates of AIADMK have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Candidates with Cases of Murder and related: 4 candidates had declared cases of murder, attempt to murder and related in their previous election affidavits. Bhonsle Shrimant Chh. Udyanraje Pratapsinh (Sitting MP) of NCP from Satara Constituency had declared a charge of murder. Two candidates of Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde (Sitting MLA, Maharashtra) from Kalyan Constituency and Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil (Sitting MP) from Shirur Constituency had declared a charge of Attempt to Murder. Dhananjay Mahadik of NCP from Kolhapur Constituency had declared a charge related to culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended.

Candidate with cases of Dacoity: Dr. Kirit Somaiya of BJP from Mumbai North East Constituency had declared a charge of dacoity against himself.

Candidates with cases of Kidnapping and related: 3 candidates had declared cases related to kidnapping in their previous election affidavits. Bhonsle Shrimant Chh. Udyanraje Pratapsinh (Sitting MP) of NCP from Satara Constituency and Gopinath Munde of BJP from Beed Constituency declared a case related to kidnapping. Chandrakant Khaire (Sitting MP) of Shiv Sena from Aurangabad Constituency declared a case related to wrongful confinement.

Candidates with cases related to electoral violations: Sanjay Jadhav (Sitting MLA) of Shiv Sena from Parbhani Constituency had declared 2 charges related to Illegal payments in connection with an election and 1 charge related to failure to keep election accounts in his previous election affidavit.