New Delhi, Sep 24 (NVI) : As Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness the second phase of 3-phased Assembly polls tomorrow, two major NGOs have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of the candidates in fray and found that 152 of the 872 nominees have declared criminal cases against them.
Altogether, 873 candidates are in the fray for all the three phases of the elections but analysis of Independent candidate from Beerwah Sarjan Ahmad Wagah alias Sarjan Barkati has not been conducted because of absence of “clear and complete affidavit”, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Jammu and Kashmir Election Watch.
“One Independent candidate namely Sarjan Ahmad Wagay contesting from Beerwah constituency has not been analysed due to the unavailability of his clear and complete affidavit on the ECI website at the time of making this report,” said a statement issued by the ADR.
It said out of 873 contesting candidates, 137 are from National parties, 205 are from State parties, 185 are from registered unrecognized parties and 346 candidates are contesting Independently.
Out of the 872 candidates analysed, those having declared criminal cases against them are 152 or 17%, the statement said.
In the last Assembly elections held in 2014, 49 or 6% of the 831 candidates analysed, had declared criminal cases against themselves.
Among the candidates in the fray this time, 114 or 13 percent have declared serious criminal cases, it said.
In 2014 Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Elections, 33 or 4% candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Among the major parties, 8 (or 21%) of the 39 candidates of INC have declared criminal cases against them in their affidavits, while among the 56 candidates of its ally National Conference, the figure is 7 (13%), according to the analysis.
From among the BJP’s 62 candidates, 6 nominees (of 10%) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits, as per the statement.
Among the 80 candidates of PDP, the number of nominees having declared criminal cases is 12 or 15%, among 28 candidates of BSP, such a number is 1 (4%) and among the 23 candidates of DPAP, such a number is 3 or 13%.
The number of candidates with ‘Serious Criminal Cases’ is 5 or 13% of 39 nominees in the Congress, 5 or 8% of 62 candidates in the BJP, 9 (11%) out of 80 candidates in PDP, 6(11%) out of 56 candidates in the JKNC, 1 (4%) out of 28 candidates of the BSP and 3 (13%) out of 23 candidates of the DPAP.
There are at least 12 candidates who have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section 307) against themselves.
At least 15 candidates are those who have declared cases related to crime against women. Among them, 3 have declared charges related to rape (IPC Section-376).
According to the ADR and J&K Election Watch, 24(27%) out of 90 Assembly Constituencies are ‘red alert’ ones, which means constituencies having 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. (NVI)
