Of the total 1,612 candidates contesting in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, 2017, 570 candidates have declared criminal cases registered against them. The third phase will be held on April 23.
According to the figures published on Friday by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), 40 out of 90 candidates of Congress and 38 from 97 candidates of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have criminal cases against them. The least candidates of the Marxist Communist Party (CPI-M) are from a criminal background. 14 candidates have declared that they have been convicted.
13 candidates have declared murder cases against themselves, 29 have declared criminal cases against women, such as misbehaviour, harassment or intimidation etc. Only 25 candidates have declared cases related to hate speech.
According to the ADR figures, 63 out of 115 parliamentary constituencies have been placed in the category of red alert, where three or more candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
The affidavits of candidates have been analyzed in addition to criminal cases on the basis of financial and educational background. ADR has stated in its report that 392 candidates have declared their assets in crores.