New Delhi, Nov 26

There has been an increase in the number of candidates with criminal cases in the 2013 assembly polls in Delhi. The BJP has the maximum number of such candidates and the Congress tops the list of "crorepati" nominees, a study revealed Tuesday.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Delhi Election Watch (DEW) analysed affidavits of 796 of 810 candidates contesting the Delhi assembly polls. Polling for the 70-member Delhi assembly will be held Dec 4.

They found that the average assets of 66 MLAs, who are re-contesting the polls, has gone up substantially from Rs.2.9 crore in 2008 to Rs.10.43 crore in 2013, marking a whopping average asset growth of 259 percent.

The study said the number of candidates with criminal cases in Delhi has gone up from 111 out of 790 (14 percent) in 2008 to 129 out of 796 (16 percent) in 2013.

Out of these 129 candidates, 93 (72 percent) have declared serious charges against them, including murder, dacoity and crimes against women.

Among the various political parties whose candidates have declared criminal cases against them, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) topped the chart with 31 out of 68 candidates (46 percent), according to data released by the ADR and DEW.

The Congress has 15 such candidates out of 70 (21 percent), Bahujan Samaj Party has 12 out of 67 (18 percent) and Aam Aadmi Party has five out of 70 candidates (7 percent), the NGOs said.

The other 64 candidates who have declared criminal charges against them are from smaller parties or are Independents.

It also said eight Congress candidates (11 percent) had serious criminal cases against them, while the figure was 22 (32 percent) for BJP, 12 (18 percent) for BSP and five (7 percent) for AAP.

For Congress, the number of candidates with criminal cases has come down from 30 percent in the 2008 assembly elections to 21 percent in the 2013 polls.

For BJP, the corresponding figure has gone up from 35 percent to 46 percent.

"Rise in number of candidates with criminal record is a cause of worry. Political parties should think about this," said Jagdeep Chhokar, founder member of DEW and ADR.

The study said that 265 of 796 candidates (33 percent) were crorepatis. In 2008, this number was 180 out of 790 (23 percent).

The average assets per candidate in 2008 was Rs.1.77 crore in 2008 and have gone up to Rs.3.43 crore in 2013.

"Among major parties, the average asset per candidate for Congress is Rs.14.25 crore, BJP candidates have average assets of Rs.8.16 crore and for AAP, the figure is Rs.2.51 crore," Chhokar said.

The study said Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Shiromani Akali Dal candidate from Rajouri Garden constituency, has declared the highest assets at Rs.235.51 crore, followed by Sushil Gupta, Congress candidate from Moti Nagar, with declared assets of Rs.164.44 crore.

Ashok Kumar Jain of Congress from Delhi Cantt constituency has declared assets of Rs.143.69 crore.

"The data shows that for those in politics, their assets grow faster than others. There are cases where asset value has grown by 10 percent," Chhokar said.

The study said Sat Prakash Rana of BJP from Bijwasan constituency has declared maximum increase in assets with an increase of Rs.105.51 crore.

"Assets have risen from Rs.6.38 crore in 2008 to Rs.111.89 crore in 2013. Rana had not declared the value of two vehicles in his 2008 affidavit," the study said.

It said assets of Ram Singh Netaji, Congress candidate from Badarpur, have increased by Rs.50.26 crore (from Rs.8.44 crore in 2008 to Rs.58.71 crores in 2013).

"Assets of Congress candidate from Jangpura, Tarvinder Singh Marwah, have risen by Rs.27.99 crore (from Rs.7.06 crore in 2008 to Rs.35.05 crore in 2013). Insurance policy value and one vehicle value was not provided in his 2008 affidavit," it said.

Of the candidates analysed, 280 (35 percent) were graduates.

A vast majority of candidates analysed (556, 70 percent) had declared their age to be between 25 and 50 years. Ten candidates were in the 71-80 age group.

Only 69 (nine percent) women are in the fray, the study added.

By:IANS