One in about six candidates in second phase of the West Bengal elections on April 17 declared criminal cases against themselves. Out of a total of 383 candidates, 68 (18 %) have cases filed against them, which is marginally less compared to the first phase.
Out of these candidates, Efrajul Hoque of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) from Harischandrapur constituency in Malda district, is charged with rape (Section 376), while “serious criminal cases” are filed against 59 (15%) candidates. “Serious criminal cases” are the ones related to “rape, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, theft, crimes against women etc,” explained electoral transparency monitoring NGO, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Eight candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women, while six are charged under Section 302 (murder).
12 (23%) out of 53 candidates of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 11 (20%) of 55 candidates of Trinamool Congress (TMC), 11 (65%) of 17 of Communist party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and 5 (22%) of 23 candidates fielded by Congress have declared criminal cases against themselves.
| Parties | Number of candidates analysed | Number of candidates with criminal cases | Number of candidates with serious criminal cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMC | 55 | 13 (24%) | 11 (20%) |
| BJP | 53 | 13 (25%) | 12 (23%) |
| Congress | 23 | 6 (26%) | 5 (22%) |
| CPI(M) | 17 | 11 (65%) | 11 (65%) |
| BSP | 43 | 2 (5%) | 1 (2%) |
| SUCI-C | 32 | 4 (13%) | 3 (9%) |
| Independent | 62 | 11 (18%) | 13 (16%) |
| Revolutionary Socialist Party | 10 | 3 (30%) | 2 (20%) |
| Kamatapur Peoples Party (United) | 7 | 1 (14%) | 1 (14%) |
| AIFB | 6 | 2 (33%) | 1 (17%) |
| CPI | 1 | 1(100%) | 1 (100%) |
| Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League | 1 | 1(100%) | 1 (100%) |
| Others | 73 | ||
| Total | 68 (18%) | 59 (15%) |
Source: ADR
Financial background
TMC’s candidates are the wealthiest, while the representatives of Socialist Unity Center of India-Communist (SUCI-C) are at the bottom of the asset scale, according to ADR’s report. Average asset of TMC’s 55 candidates in Phase II is 1.57 crore, while SUCI-Cs’ is Rs. 8.38 lakh.
SUCI-C has put up 32 candidates in the second phase. Top three candidates in terms of assets are all from TMC, Baichung Bhutia of Siliguri constituency has an asset base of 17.5 crore, Asok Kumar Chattopadhyay from Suri in Birbhum has little over 13.5 crore, while James Kujur of Jalpaiguri has an asset base of eight crore.
Interestingly three candidates – Khagen Das [Bahujan Mukti Party], Benoy Kumar Das and Sandip Roy, contesting as independents – declared zero asset. 56 [15%] of 383 candidates are crorepatis, while 84 [22%] candidates have not declared their PAN details.
215 out of 383 candidates have not declared income tax details, according to the ADR report. Highest annual income was shown by CPI-M’s Akramul Hoque.
206 candidates have declared their education qualification to be between fifth and 12th standard, while 101 candidates were graduates or graduate professionals. 51 of the candidates are postgraduates, 10 are Doctorates, whereas 9 have declared themselves as simple literates.
Gender report
33 women candidates are contesting in Phase II.
