A complete of 577 candidates are attempting their luck for the 75 Assembly constituencies going for polls within the third and fourth phases of West Bengal polls, with 134 (23.22 %) having declared prison circumstances in opposition to themselves and 108 (18.71 %) dealing with critical costs, the West Bengal Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms stated in its experiences.
The 294-member West Bengal Assembly goes for polls in eight phases between March 27 and April 29. A complete of 31 constituencies are going for polls within the third part on April 6. Eight (26 %) out of 31 constituencies are ‘Red Alert Constituencies’, the place three or extra contesting candidates have declared prison circumstances in opposition to themselves.
The West Bengal Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 205 candidates, who’re contesting within the Phase III.
“Out of 205 candidates analysed, 53 (26 percent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. 43 (21 percent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves,” the report stated.
At least 9 candidates have declared circumstances associated to crime in opposition to girls, it stated including that three candidates have declared circumstances associated to homicide (IPC Section-302) in opposition to themselves and 16 candidates have declared circumstances associated to try to homicide (IPC Section-307) in opposition to themselves.
Further, among the many main events, 19 (61 %) out of 31 candidates analysed from BJP, eight (62 %) out of 13 candidates analysed from CPI(M), three (43 %) out of seven candidates analysed from INC, 11 (36 %) out of 31 candidates analysed from AITC and two (11 %) out of 18 candidates analysed from SUCI(C) have declared prison circumstances in opposition to themselves of their affidavits
Among these, 16 from BJP, 5 from CPI(M), 10 from AITC and two from SUCI(C) have declared critical prison circumstances in opposition to themselves of their affidavits.
Similarly, the West Bengal Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 372 out of 373 candidates from 44 constituencies, who’re contesting within the West Bengal Assembly Elections Phase IV, scheduled for April 10.
“One Independent candidate namely Bishnu Chowdhuri from Saptagram constituency has not been analysed due to incomplete affidavit available on the ECI website at the time of making this report,” the report for part IV stated.
The report stated that within the fourth part, there are 12 (27 %) ‘Red Alert Constituencies’.
“Out of 372 candidates analysed, 81 (22 percent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.65 (17 percent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves,” the report stated, including 19 candidates have declared circumstances associated to crime in opposition to girls.
Among these with prison costs, 4 candidates have declared circumstances associated to homicide (IPC Section-302) in opposition to themselves and 16 candidates have declared circumstances associated to try to homicide (IPC Section-307) in opposition to themselves.
Party smart Candidates with Criminal Cases: Among the key events, 27 (61 %) out of 44 candidates analysed from BJP, 16 (73 %) out of twenty-two candidates analysed from CPI(M), two (22 %) out of 9 candidates analysed from INC, 17 (39 %) out of 44 candidates analysed from AITC and one (4 %) out of 26 candidates analysed from SUCI(C) have declared prison circumstances in opposition to themselves of their affidavits.
Among these, 24 from BJP, 10 from CPI(M), 17 from AITC and one from SUCI(C) have declared critical prison circumstances in opposition to themselves of their affidavits.
In the primary part of the elections, held in 30 constituencies on March 27, 191 candidates have been within the fray. Out of those, 48 (25 %) candidates have declared prison circumstances in opposition to themselves, together with 42 (22 %) with critical prison circumstances in opposition to themselves.
Seven (23 per cent) out of 30 constituencies have been ‘Red Alert Constituencies’ in part one.
In the second part, held in 30 constituencies on April 1, there have been 171 candidates within the fray. Of these, 43 (25 %) candidates have declared prison circumstances in opposition to themselves, together with 36 (21 %) with critical prison circumstances. In part two, there have been six ‘Red Alert Constituencies’.
In a separate report, ADR and West Bengal Election Watch additionally analysed the prison background particulars of 282 out of 294 sitting MLAs based mostly on the affidavit submitted previous to the 2016 Assembly elections and by-elections carried out thereafter.
As of March, 2021, 10 seats are vacant within the West Bengal Assembly.
Two MLAs Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar of AITC and Ali Imran Ramz of AIFB weren’t analysed because of unclear affidavits out there on the ECI web site on the time of constructing the report, the report stated.
“Out of 282 sitting MLAs analysed, 104 (37 percent) MLAs have declared criminal cases against themselves. 90 (32 percent) MLAs have declared serious criminal cases,” it stated.
At least seven MLAs have declared circumstances associated to homicide (IPC part 302) and 24 MLAs have declared circumstances associated to try to homicide (IPC part 307). “10 MLAs have declared cases related to crime against women,” it added.
Results for West Bengal polls shall be declared on May 2.
