Source
Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/nearly-23-candidates-in-hp-face-criminal-charges/articleshow/95289512.cms
Date
City
Shimla
Around 23% of candidates in fray for the November 12 assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh face criminal cases.
All major parties contesting in Himachal elections have given tickets to 18% to 64% candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves.
Out of 412 candidates analysed, 201 are from national parties, 67 from state parties, 45 from registered unrecognised parties and 99 are contesting as independents.
Out of the total candidates analysed, 94 have declared criminal cases against themselves. In 2017 assembly elections, out of 338 candidates analysed, 61 (18 per cent) had declared criminal cases against themselves.
Five candidates have declared cases related to crime against women, while two have declared cases related to murder against them and three have declared cases related to attempt to murder against themselves.
The Himachal Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-certified affidavits of all 412 candidates who are contesting in the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections. It has been found that 9 (13%) out of 68 constituencies are red alert constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where three or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
As per the data compiled, among the major parties, 7 (64%) out of 11 candidates analysed from CPM, 36 (53%) out of 68 candidates analysed from Congress, 12 (18%) out of 68 candidates analysed from BJP, 12 (18%) out of 67 candidates analysed from AAP and 2 (4%) out of 53 candidates analysed from BSP have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Among the major parties, 5 (46%) out of 11 candidates analysed from CPM, 17 (25%) out of 68 candidates analysed from Congress, 6 (9%) out of 68 candidates analysed from BJP, 6 (9%) out of 67 candidates analysed from AAP and 1 (2%) out of 53 candidates analysed from BSP have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.