Recently the election rights organization Association for Democratic Reforms, after the results of the assembly elections held in five states (Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Punjab) revealed that about 45 percent of the candidates who won these elections were against Criminal cases are registered. At the same time, on Wednesday, ADR has released another report. In which it has told that the political parties have not given any reason for selecting 212 candidates with criminal background in these five states.
The ADR analyzed Form C-7 of 1,178 candidates who contested the assembly elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh held earlier this year. The ADR said that the justification is put forward by the parties rather than the reasons. Also, for 212 candidates with criminal background, no reason has been given by the political parties for their selection.
This is the status of the candidates of Uttar Pradesh
According to the ADR, reasons have been presented for 689 (83 per cent) out of 827 candidates with criminal cases in Uttar Pradesh and 511 (82 per cent) out of 623 candidates with serious criminal cases. Whereas, for 138 (17 per cent) candidates with criminal background, no reason has been given by political parties for their selection.
Parties could not explain the reason for giving tickets to 12 candidates with criminal background
Similarly, in Uttarakhand 64 (84 per cent) out of 76 candidates with criminal background and 37 (86 per cent) out of 43 candidates with serious criminal cases have been cited as reasons. Whereas in Uttarakhand, about 12 (16 per cent) candidates with criminal background, the parties have not given any reason for their selection.
This is the condition of Goa
Similarly, in Goa, 28 (49 per cent) of the 57 candidates with criminal cases had their parties explain why they had been given tickets, similarly 19 out of 35 candidates with serious criminal cases, the ADR reported in its report. 54 per cent) while parties have not given any reason for selecting 29 (51 per cent) candidates with criminal background.
Parties could not explain the reason for giving tickets to two candidates in Manipur
In Manipur, 39 (95 per cent) of 41 candidates with criminal background and 29 (94 per cent) out of 31 candidates with serious criminal cases have been given reasons, the ADR said. Here, in respect of two (5 per cent) candidates with criminal antecedents, no reason has been given by the parties for their selection.
In Punjab, the reasons for giving tickets to 146 (82 per cent) out of 177 candidates with criminal cases and 104 (87 per cent) out of 120 candidates with serious criminal cases were cited by parties, while 31 (18 per cent) with criminal backgrounds. No reason has been given by the parties for the selection of the candidates.
The ADR said in the report that the analysis observed that in most cases, instead of giving a clear answer to the question, a justification is put forward as to why the candidate was selected. For some candidates, parties have said that he was the best option to win the election. Significantly, in 2020, the Madras High Court not only asked the Center to enact a law to ban candidates with criminal background from contesting elections to the Lok Sabha as well as state assemblies.
