Almost 10 percent of politicians contesting the first phase of India's election next month are charged with attempted murder, rape and other crimes, advocacy groups said yesterday.
Of the 64 candidates contesting the election in two states, six have declared in their affidavits filed with the election commission they face criminal cases including for cheating and dishonesty, the groups said.
The analysis of the affidavits is the latest from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch, two groups pushing for better governance.
Earlier this month, they said 37 percent of candidates from the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party announced so far nationally have criminal cases pending, and 25 percent from the ruling Congress party.
The ADR's Jagdeep Chhokar said the figures were just the tip of the iceberg, with plenty more politicians expected to file similar affidavits.
An ADR survey last year found nearly one third of MPs in the nation's 543-member lower house of parliament, and an almost equal number of state lawmakers, had criminal cases against them.
The issue of convicted MPs made national headlines last July when the Supreme Court ruled it was illegal for politicians, found guilty of serious crimes, to continue to hold office simply by filing an appeal against their conviction.