The number of candidates with criminal cases against them rose from 16 per cent in 2013 to 17 per cent this year.
Those with serious charges against them, however, have gone down from 12 per cent to 11 per cent. As per ADR, serious charges include electoral offences, murder, assault and crimes against women.
The BJP holds the dubious distinction of fielding the most candidates with pending criminal charges, with 39 per cent of its 70 contenders facing cases. The AAP comes in second with 33 per cent and the Congress at third with 30 per cent of their candidates facing charges.
There is one candidate with a murder case and eight who have been charged with crimes against women.