Thirty-six out of the 266 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat have criminal cases against them, with some also facing attempt to murder and dacoity charges, as per an analysis of their affidavits by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
“Out of the 266 candidates, 36 (14%) have criminal charges against them, as per details provided by them in the affidavits. Out of them, 21 (8%) have serious criminal cases against them,” ADR’s Gujarat coordinator Pankti Jog told reporters on Monday.
Serious criminal cases are those which attract a maximum punishment of 5 years or more and are non-bailable. Cases related to murder, rape, kidnapping, bribery, assault, causing loss to the exchequer, crimes against women, hate speech, and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act etc are classified as serious criminal cases, she said. Among the major parties, four out of the 25 BJP candidates, i.e. 15% have criminal cases against them, with two facing serious charges, as per the ADR data. ADR is an electoral reform advocacy group.
Out of the 23 Congress candidates, 26% (6) are named in criminal cases, with three facing serious charges, according to the ADR analysis. Tribal leaders Anant Patel and Dilip Vasava, contesting from Valsad and Bharuch seats respectively, are facing cases on charges of attempt to murder. Patel is the Congress candidate, while Vasava is Bharat Adivasi Party nominee.
AAP candidate Chaitar Vasava and independent nominee Ismail Patel, both contesting from Bharuch seat, have the highest number of criminal cases, 13 each, against them. Out of the total 118 independent candidates, 18 have criminal cases against them, with 11 facing serious charges, ADR said. Congress’ Banaskantha candidate Geniben Thakor has a case pending related to abetment of suicide, according to the data.
Additionally, BJP candidate Amit Shah has cases of criminal intimidation, mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy a house, promoting enmity etc against him. The party’s Parshottam Rupala, a Rajkot candidate has charges of defamation, while Himmatsinh Patel, a candidate of Ahmedabad East has cases against him for being a member of an unlawful assembly, rioting etc.