30% candidates from BJP and Congress face criminal charges: survey

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi Mar,22 2014: Every one out of three candidates who have been fielded by the country’s two major national parties, the BJP and the Congress, have criminal cases against them, according to the latest survey conducted by the National Election Watch and the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The National Election Watch and the ADR have scanned through a sample of 280 affidavits of candidates from the BJP and the Congress, of the 469 candidates announced so far by the two parties for the Lok Sabha Elections. 30 per cent of candidates fielded by both parties have criminal charges against them; of them 13 per cent face serious charges like murder and kidnapping.

35 per cent of the BJP’s candidates face criminal charges, of them 17 percent are serious charges. Meanwhile, 27 per cent of Congress’ candidates face criminal charges, with 10 per cent facing serious charges.

Just in the National Capital, both parties have at least two candidates with charges of attempt to murder - Satish Dubey of the BJP and Ramesh Chand Tomar of the Congress.

BJP’s Yeddyurappa has serious corruption charges in cases of illegal mining. Congress’ Pawan Bansal, who is fighting from Chandigarh, had to resign after his nephew faced serious corruption allegations. But both parties are on the defensive, when asked.

Congress Spokesperson Salman Soz says "under the rule of law unless convicted you are innocent." BJP’s Meenakshi Lekhi says "You have to read between the lines, not all charges are true."

Nearly 60 per cent of the 280 candidates who are part of the survey have assets worth over Rs. 1 crore.

The survey does not include candidates from the AAP or regional parties.