The Union Territory of Puducherry is amongst the five states going under assembly polls. Almost all parties in Puducherry have declared their candidates who will be contesting the polls.
The election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 324 candidates from 30 constituencies who are contesting in the Puducherry Assembly Elections 2021. Out of 323 candidates analysed, 36 are from national parties, 64 are from state parties, 108 are from registered unrecognized parties and 115 candidates are contesting independently.
A total of 54 (17%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in the 2021 Puducherry polls. In the 2016 Puducherry Assembly Elections, out of 343 candidates analysed, 68 (20%) had declared criminal cases against themselves.
This time, among the major parties, 3(60%) out of 5 candidates analysed from AIADMK, 5(56%) out of 9 candidates from BJP, 7(54%) out of 13 candidates analysed from DMK, 4 (29%) out of 14 candidates from INC, 3 (19%) out of 16 candidates analysed from All India NR Congress and 2 (8%) out of 26 candidates analysed from DMDK have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Among the major parties, 2(40%) out of 5 candidates analysed from AIADMK, 5(39%) out of 13 candidates analysed from DMK, 2(22%) out of 9 candidates from BJP, 2(14%) out of 14 candidates analysed from INC, 2(8%) out of 26 candidates analysed from DMDK and 1(6%) out of 16 candidates from All India NR Congress have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
One candidate, RKR. Anantharaman of INC from Manavely constituency has declared one charge related to a word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman (IPC Section-509).
2 candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves. Meanwhile, one candidate, P.R.N. Thirumurugan of All India NR Congress from Karaikal North constituency has declared one charge related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307).
Financial Background
Out of the 323 candidates analysed, 74 (23%) candidates are crorepatis. In the 2016 Puducherry Assembly Elections, out of 343 candidates, 96 (28%) were crorepatis. Among the major parties, 8(89%) out of 9 candidates analysed from BJP, 12(86%) out of 14 candidates analysed from INC, 13(81%) out of 16 candidates analysed from All India N.R. Congress, 4(80%) out of 5 candidates analysed from AIADMK and 9 (69%) out of 13 candidates from DMK have declared assets valued at more than Rs 1 crore. The average of assets per candidate analysed in the Puducherry Assembly Elections 2021 is Rs 2.14 Crores. In the 2016 Puducherry Assembly Elections, the average assets per candidate for 343 candidates was Rs.2.49 crores.
Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 16 All India NR Congress candidates are Rs. 10.79 crores, 9 BJP candidates have declared assets of Rs 9.89 crores, 5 AIADMK candidates have average assets of Rs 9.10 crores, 13 DMK candidates have Rs 8.03 crores, 14 INC candidates have average assets of Rs 5.82 crores and 26 DMDK candidates have average assets worth Rs 16.49.
