Twenty-two per cent of the 372 candidates in the fourth phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms. The West Bengal Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 372 out of 373 candidates who are contesting in the polls to be held on April 10. Records of Independent candidate Bishnu Chowdhuri from Saptagram constituency could not be analysed due to incomplete affidavit available on the ECI website at the time of making this report, the ADR said.
“Out of 372 candidates analysed, 81 (22 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves and 65 (17 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves,” the report said.