30% of candidates in MP have criminal background, says ADR

Study says 30% candidates of three major political parties -- Congress, BJP and BSP -- had criminal background

Political parties in Madhya Pradesh (MP) have fielded more candidates with a criminal background in the coming Assembly elections than they did in the 2008 state polls, according to a study by Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The study says 30 per cent of all candidates put forward by the three major political parties — Indian National Congress (INC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) — have a criminal background. Further, 18 per cent have serious criminal cases against them, including charges of murder and kidnapping. MP goes to the polls on November 25.

The Congress has 40 per cent of the candidates with criminal cases, while 22 per cent has serious cases against them.

The BJP and the BSP have 27 per cent and 24 per cent of the candidates with criminal cases.

Termed as ‘Red alert constituencies’, MP had 10 seats where at least three candidates from political parties had criminal cases.