Number of candidates with criminal cases goes up in Delhi

The number of candidates with criminal cases in Delhi has gone up from 111 out of 790 (14%) in 2008 to 129 out of 796 (16%) in 2013

There has been an increase in the number of candidates with criminal cases in the 2013 assembly polls in Delhi, a study revealed Tuesday.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Delhi Election Watch (DEW) studied the affidavits submitted by the candidates before the Election Commission.

They found that the number of candidates with criminal cases in Delhi has gone up from 111 out of 790 (14 percent) in 2008 to 129 out of 796 (16 percent) in 2013.

Out of these 129 candidates, 93 (72 percent) have declared serious charges against them, including murder, dacoity and crimes against women.

Among the various political parties whose candidates have declared criminal cases against them, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tops the chart with 31 out of 68 candidates (46 percent), according to data released by the ADR and DEW.

The Congress has 15 such candidates out of 70 (21 percent), Bahujan Samaj Party has 14 out of 67 (21 percent) and Aam Aadmi Party has five out of 70 candidates (7 percent), the NGOs said.

The other 64 candidates who have declared criminal charges against them are from smaller parties or are Independents.

Further, the average assets of 66 MLAs, who are re-contesting the polls, has gone up substantially from Rs.2.9 crore in 2008 to Rs.10.43 crore in 2013, they said.