OEW appeals parties to deny tickets to persons with criminal

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With 27 per cent of Odisha's sitting MLAs having criminal cases, Odisha Election Watch and ADR Friday appealed all political parties in the state to refrain from giving party tickets to persons with criminal background in the next elections.

"Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Odisha Election Watch (OEW) have analysed the affidavits of all 168 sitting MPs and MLAs from Odisha. While 27 per cent of sitting MLAs have declared criminal case against themselves, the same figure at the national levels stands at 21 per cent," OEW state convenor Ranjan Kumar Mohanty told reporters here.

Mohanty said if people with criminal records are allowed to contest elections, they may use unethical means and coercion to force persons to vote for them. This will increase violence in elections and create chllange for free and fair elections, he said this is violation of very fundamental basis of democracy.

Apart from denying tickets to persons with criminal cases, OEW also urged political parties to disclose the criteria on which candidates are given tickets.

Mohanty said out of these 168 MPs/MLAs in Odisha, 54 (32 per cent) have declared criminal cases against themselves. Among these 54 MPs/MLAs, 41 (24 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Mohanty said the OEW and ADR will soon start a massive voters awareness programme.

OEW will also launch the campaign My Vote My Country : My Vote not for Sale soon in the state. The campaign shall be conducted in different villages and cities covering all the 30 districts of Odisha through Mobile van campaign using audiovisual materials, folk media, street play, different cultural actions, posters, pamphlets, workshops, awareness meeting.

OEW also appealed media to join hand to create a conducive environment for ensuring free and fair elections.