Odisha Elections 2024: 28% Lok Sabha Candidates In 3rd Phase Face Criminal Cases

Bhubaneswar: As many as 18 (28%) of the 64 candidates in fray in the six Lok Sabha seats that are going to polls in the third phase in Odisha have declared criminal cases against them.

According to an analysis by Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), altogether 18 candidates for the third round of election in the state have declared this in self-sworn affidavits.

Six Lok Sabha constituencies of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Puri, and Sambalpur in Odisha that are going to polls on May 25 in the third phase.

The report said that 13 (20%) of these candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

This apart, one candidate has declared cases related to murder (IPC Section -302) against himself, while four candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section 307) against themselves.

Further, four candidates have declared cases related to crime against women.