In an analysis of the candidates contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Puducherry, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Puducherry Election Watch (PEW) found that six candidates out of the 30 have declared criminal cases against them.

In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, only one candidate from the DMDK had declared criminal cases. R.K.R. Anantharaman from the Pattali Makkal Katchi, M. Marie Uthriyanathan from Samata Party, A.M.H. Nazeem from DMK, J. Dhandapani (Independent) and P. Bakkiaraj (Indepdent) are the candidates with declared criminal cases against them.

The analysis report also states that compared to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections where the average assets per candidate was Rs. 64.28 lakh, this time around the average assets is Rs.1.18 crore per candidate. V.Narayansamy from the INC leads the list with assets worth above Rs. 9 crore, followed by R. Radhakrishnan of the All India N.R. Congress with assets worth above Rs. 7 crore.

Only three of the 30 candidates have completed their graduation. Of the three women candidates, two are Independents and the third is from the JD (U).

The ADR and PEW have also started a ‘know your neta’ SMS campaign, where voters can get information about MP and MLA candidates of their constituency.