Himachal Pradesh, which have implacable records of peaceful and law abiding citizen on the anvil of Assembly elections, need to be cautioned from the profile of candidates as election dogs warned that about 18 per cent candidates carry the criminal charges tag with them.

Himachal Pradesh Election Watch convenor O P Dharata released a report of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) which analysed self-sworn affidavits of about 338 candidates who are contesting in the state as election will be held on November 9, 2017.

The ADR said out of the 338 candidates analysed, 61 (18 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against them as 31 (9 per cent) candidates have declared serious criminal cases against them.

One Congress candidate Ram Kumar, contesting from Doon constituency, has declared a case related to murder (IPC Section-302) against himself in his affidavits. Two candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against them.

Six (9 per cent) out of 68 candidates from Congress, 23 (34 per cent ) out of 68 candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 3 (7 per cent ) out of 42 candidates from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Ten (71 per cent ) out of 14 candidates from CPI (M) and 16 (14 per cent) out of 112 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against them in their affidavits.

Candidates with serious criminal cases are 3 (4 per cent) out of 68 candidates from Congress (INC), 9 (13 per cent) out of 68 candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party, 2 (5 per cent) out of 42 candidates from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), 9 (64 per cent) out of 14 candidates from CPI(M) and 6 (5 per cent).

Out of 112 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping against them in their affidavits.

Election watch group declared Dalhousie and Mandi assembly as Red Alert constituencies having more than three candidates with declared criminal cases contesting the elections.