Bhubaneswar: As many as 186 candidates for 77 assembly seats which are going to polls in Odisha in the second phase on April 17 have declared criminal cases against them, according to a report of Odisha Election Watch (OEW).
Of the 747 candidates, 186 have declared criminal cases against them, constituting about 25 per cent of the aspirants, says the report released here today by OEW, the state chapter of the National Election Watch.
Of the total 747 candidates, affidavits of 744 aspirants were analysed as papers of three nominees lacked clear information, the report stated.
Out of the 186 candidates, who have declared criminal cases, 144 are facing serious criminal cases including murder, rape, kidnapping and crimes against women.
As many as 39 (51 per cent) of the 77 candidates fielded by Congress have declared criminal cases against them, while 25 (32 per cent) of the 77 candidates of BJD, 34 (44 per cent) of 77 nominees of BJP and 9 (14 per cent) of 63 candidates of AAP have declared criminal cases in their affidavits, the report said.
