BJP tops the list of tainted candidates in Delhi Assembly poll

New Delhi: As many as 129 contestants in Delhi assembly polls have criminal background with BJP topping the list by giving maximum number of tickets to tainted candidates, an analysis of self-sworn affidavits made by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Delhi Election Watch said here today.

Nearly two-thirds (93) of 129 candidates with tainted backgrounds declared serious charges against them which included attempt to murder, robbery/dacoity and crime, it said. Even AAP, which has entered the election fray with a promise to decriminalise politics, have fielded five candidates with serious criminal charges against them, said the analysis. Moreover, there is an overall increase of two per cent in the number of tainted candidates as compared to the last assembly election in 2008. In 2008, there were 111 (14 per cent) candidates with declared criminal cases, which has increased to 129 (16 per cent) this year, said the analysis. Party-wise, 15 (21 per cent) of 70 candidates fielded by Congress have declared criminal cases against them while 31 (46 per cent) out of 68 candidates from BJP, 14 (21 per cent) out of 67 candidates from BSP and 5 (7 per cent) out of 70 candidates from AAP have declared criminal cases in their affidavits. Out of those candidates who have declared criminal cases against them, eight of Congress have declared serious criminal cases against them, while 22 from BJP, 12 from BSP and five from AAP have declared serious criminal cases in their affidavits, said ADR report. In 2008 assembly election, Congress had fielded 30 per cent candidates with criminal cases, which has come down to 21 per cent in 2013. BJP had 35 per cent candidates with criminal cases in 2008 assembly elections which has risen to 46 per cent in 2013.