Odisha Elections 2024: 19% LS Candidates In Phase-I Face Criminal Cases

Bhubaneswar: Seven of the 37 candidates (19 per cent) in fray for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Odisha have declared criminal cases pending against them.

Six (16%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said in a report released on Saturday.

The Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 37 candidates, who are contesting in four constituencies in Odisha going to polls in the first phase on May 13.

ADR analysed the criminal, financial and other background details of the 37 Lok Sabha candidates. Voters in Berhampur, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Koraput parliamentary seats and 28 Assembly seats under these constituencies will take part in the simultaneous polls on May 13.

As per the analysis, 75 per cent of BJP candidates are facing trial in criminal cases, 50 per cent of BJD and 25 per cent of Congress candidates contesting polls in four parliamentary constituencies have criminal cases pending against them.

Similarly, 14 (38 per cent) candidates have declared their educational qualification to be between class 5 and 12 passed, while 22 (59 per cent) candidates have declared they are graduates. One candidate has declared himself to be just literate.
Out of 37 candidates, only seven are female.

This apart, 10 (27 per cent) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years while 23 (62 per cent) candidates are in the age group of 41 to 60 years. There are four (11 per cent) candidates whose age is between 61 and 70 years.