New Delhi: As the race for Karnataka heats up, the BJP seemed to have beat the Congress in fielding candidates with criminal cases.
“Among major parties, 83 (37 per cent), out of 224 candidates from the BJP, 59 (27 per cent) out of 220 candidates analysed from the INC have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits,” a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) stated.
However, the Congress was mildly ahead as far as the number of crorepati candidates was concerned. In all, 94 per cent of Congress candidates, including Priya Krishna and energy minister D.K. Shivakumar, top the list of crorepatis, while 93 per cent of BJP candidates are crorepatis.
A total of 17 candidates have so far declared zero assets. Out of the total number of candidates analysed, 447 have declared wealth of more than Rs 5 crore, while 819 have declared assets worth less than Rs 10 lakh. Of the total number of candidates, 35 per cent are crorepatis.
The report was arrived at after analysing the affidavits of 2,560 out of 2,655 candidates contesting the Karnataka Assembly elections. In total, 391 candidates have declared criminal cases.
A total of 23 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women such as assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty, word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman and cohabitation caused by man deceitfully, including a belief of lawful marriage. Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty.
The election watchdog has branded 56 of the total 224 constituencies as “Red Alert constituencies”, meaning seats where 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases.
The “Red Alert” in fact lists Kolar district of the state at the top. The BJP, Congress and JD(S) have all have fielded candidates with criminal cases in Kolar, Ramanagaram and so on.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded a candidate with a criminal case in Gulbarga North.
Karnataka goes to polls on May 12 and counting will be held on May 15. The BJP and Congress are up for a tough fight against each other in a tri-cornered contest which includes the Janata Dal (Secular) as well.
