In First Two Phases, 78 candidates Have Criminal Cases Against Them; 64 Face Serious Charges

In the first two phases of Assam Assembly Elections 2021, at least 78 candidates in the fray have criminal cases against them, while 64 have serious criminal charges, show reports from Assam Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

In the first phase, scheduled on March 27, 264 candidates are contesting in 47 seats. The self-sworn affidavits of 259 candidates were analysed as the details of five candidates were either badly scanned or complete affidavits were not uploaded on the ECI website, the ADR said. “Out of 259 candidates analysed, 41 (16 percent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. Also, 34 (13 percent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves,” the ADR said in its report.

For the second phase, to be held on April 1 in 39 constituencies, the ADR analysed the affidavits of all the 345 candidates — 37 (11 percent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves and 30 (nine percent) have declared serious criminal charges, the ADR said in another report.

Details of the third phase of election, to be held on 40 seats on April 6, are yet to be analysed.

Phase I

In the first phase, 10 out of 43 candidates analysed from Congress; eight out of 41 candidates analysed from the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), three out of 39 candidates analysed from the BJP and one candidate each from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and  Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), SUCI(C), have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Among them, nine from the Congress, six from AJP, three out of 39 candidates analysed from BJP and one candidate each from NCP, AGP and SUCI(C) have serious criminal cases against them.

“Five candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of five candidates one candidate has declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376). Two candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves,” the ADR said, about the first phase of polls.

In phase one, Bokakhatm, Margherita and Behali are ‘red alert constituencies’ with three or more candidates with declared criminal cases.

Phase 2

In the second phase, 11 (32 percent) out of 34 candidates analysed from BJP have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

“Five (18 percent) out of 28 candidates analysed from INC, five (71 percent) out of seven candidates analysed from AIUDF, two (33 percent) out of six candidates analysed from AGP, three (16 percent) out of 19 candidates analysed from AJP and one candidate each from All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), SUCI(C) and United Peoples Party Liberal have declared criminal cases against themselves,” it said.

Ten candidates from the BJP and three each from AJP and AIUDF have declared serious criminal cases — which include offences for which maximum punishment is five years or more, or is a non-bailable offence.

Among others who are facing serious criminal cases are two each from AGP and Congress, while one candidate each from AIFB, United Peoples Party Liberal and SUCI(C).

“Three candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of three candidates, one candidate has declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376),” the phase two report said. In phase two, Sonai and Kalaigaon are red alert constituencies.

At least three candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302), while two candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307).

Previous polls

In 2016, elections for the 126-member Assam Assembly were held in two phases and out of the 1,062 candidates analysed, 72 (7 percent) candidates had declared criminal cases against themselves.

“At least 57 (5 percent) candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women etc,” a previous ADR report said.

Out of the elected members, the ADR also analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 119 MLAs. It said 15 MLAs had declared criminal cases against themselves and 11 MLAs had declared serious criminal cases.

At least three MLAs had declared cases related to murder.

In terms of political parties, seven out of 59 MLAs from BJP, five out of 20 MLAs from Congress and two out of 14 MLAs from AIUDF have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. One Independent MLA had also declared criminal cases.

“Six out of 59 MLAs from BJP, three out of 20 MLAs from INC and two out of 14 MLAs from AIUDF have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits,” the ADR said in its ‘Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other details of Sitting MLAs’.

Results for the three phases of the assembly polls will be announced on May 2.