Bhubaneswar: In a startling revelation, Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Sunday said that about 30% of the candidates who are contesting in the five Lok Sabha constituencies – Aska, Bargarh, Balangir, Kandhamal, and Sundargarh, in Odisha that will go to polls on May 20 have criminal cases pending against them.
The analysis of Odisha Election Watch and ADR has taken into account the self-sworn affidavits filed by the candidates in these constituencies.
In all, 40 candidates are in the fray in Aska, Bargarh, Balangir, Kandhamal, and Sundargarh Lok Sabha constituencies. Of these, 12 (30%) candidates have criminal cases, while 8 (20%) candidates have serious criminal cases against them. Similarly, one candidate is booked in a murder case, while attempt-to-murder cases are registered against four.
Four other candidates are booked for cases related to crime against women.
The analysis shows that BJP has the highest number of candidates (80%) with criminal cases. On the other hand, 20% of the BJD and Congress candidates have criminal cases pending against them.
In the first phase of elections in Odisha, of 37 candidates (19%) have criminal cases pending against them.
