First Phase Of Bengal Poll - Every Fifth Candidate Has A Criminal Record

Kolkata: A study conducted by NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Wednesday revealed that 58 of the 296 candidates contesting the first phase of the West Bengal assembly polls have pending criminal cases against them.

The organization said that 20 per cent of the contesting candidates have admitted in their affidavits filed with the Election Commission that they have criminal cases against them. It also revealed that 49 other candidates have declared that they have serious criminal cases including attempt to murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery and crimes against women pending against them.

Gobordhan Bagdi, who is contesting from Raghunathpur has a case of attempt to murder pending against him. Chunibala Hansda of Jharkhand Party (Naren) from Jhargram constituency has also declared a case of attempt to murder against him.

A total of 15 of the 49 candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 12 of the 49 from Trinamool Congress (TMC), eight of the 30 from CPI-M, five of the 13 from the Congress, four out of nine of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and six of the 36 Independent candidates have also declared that criminal cases are pending against them. Smaller parties like Socialist Unity Centre of India-Communist and All Jharkhand Students Union have also fielded candidates with criminal backgrounds.

A total of 49 out of 294 constituencies will go to the polls in two rounds in the first phase. Voting for 18 seats will be held on April 4, and for 31 on April 11.