30 candidates in Assam polls first phase have criminal background

Nearly six percent of the candidates contesting in the first phase of the Assam assembly election have a criminal record, an analysis by think tank Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said.

ADR analysed the affidavits of all 539 candidates contesting in the first phase of the assembly elections on April 4.

Out of the 539 candidates, 30 candidates or six percent have declared criminal cases against them.

Of these, 25 candidates have serious criminal cases, including those related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and crimes against women.

Two candidates, Kushal Dowari of the BJP from Thowra constituency and Janardan Hazarika, an independent candidate from Amguri constituency, have declared cases related to murder.

Dowari has also declared a charge related to attempt to murder.

Another independent candidate, Ibungobi Singha from Sonai constituency, has declared a charge related to assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, while independent candidate Abdul Ahad Choudhury has a charge related to kidnapping for ransom.

Party wise, 8 (12 percent) out of 65 candidates from the Congress, 3 (6 percent) out of 54 candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 3 out of 27 candidates from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), one each from the Communist Party of India-Marxist, and CPI-Marxist-Leninist-Liberation, and 14 out of 280 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases.