survey by social forum Karnataka Election Watch (KEW) revealed that 104 out of the 1,325 candidates in the fray have cases of murder, attempt to murder, rioting, death threat, criminal assault and disproportionate assets against them.
104 Karnataka candidates have criminal cases against them
BANGALORE: A survey by social forum Karnataka Election Watch (KEW) revealed that 104 out of the 1,325 candidates in the fray have cases of murder, attempt to murder, rioting, death threat, criminal assault and disproportionate assets against them.
Of these, 11 have murder or attempt to murder cases against them. The Bharatiya Janata Party has 37 candidates with criminal backgrounds, Congress 21 and JD(S) has 18 such candidates.
“Members are given tickets not on the basis of their clean records or honesty but their wealth. The total amount of assets declared by the contestants is Rs902 crore, a whopping increase of Rs458 crore compared to the declaration made during 2004 assembly elections,” said Trilochan Sastry, the convener of KEW and a faculty member of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
Twelve independent candidates have criminal cases against them. BJP leaders like B Sreeramulu and MP Renukacharya have been booked for attempt to murder, criminal assault and death threats, the JD(S) has HD Kumaraswamy and HD Revanna; DK Shivakumar, and Kuppendra Reddy from the Congress figure in the list for disproportionate assets and not declaring their permanent account number. BS Yediyurappa, Hareesh BP and KS Kirankumar got a clean slate this time. “Either they were exempted or forgot to mention details while submitting nominations or the government has withdrawn cases,” explained Sastry.
But it has not been taken to the state Election Commission. “This is an attempt to spread awareness among voters,” said historian and KEW member Ramachandra Guha.
k_bhargavi@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}