59% Candidates With Criminal Cases In Odisha Third-Phase Polls

Bhubaneswar: About 59 per cent of the candidates contesting for six Lok Sabha and 42 Assembly seats in the third phase polls in Odisha have criminal cases against them, says a joint study by the Odisha Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The fact is corroborated on the self-sworn affidavits of the candidates.

Out of 60 candidates contesting six Lok Sabha seats, 15 (25%) have criminal cases and 10 (17%) have serious criminal cases against them.

Similarly, the study analysing 354 out of the 356 candidates contesting 42 Assembly seats, says 119 (34%) candidates have criminal cases and 101 (29%) have declared that there are serious criminal cases against them.

In terms of party-wise candidates with criminal cases, among the major parties, 20 (48%) out of 42 BJD candidates, 30 (71%) out of 42 BJP candidates, 19 (46%) out of 41 Congress candidates and 5 (17%) out of 30 BSP candidates have admitted to criminal cases against them in their respective affidavits.

Election to the six Lok Sabha seats of Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Puri and Bhubaneswar and 42 Assembly seats is scheduled on April 23.