If one thinks that women in the poll fray and controversy are not even remotely related then there are remote chances of the view itself getting endorsed especially in the wake of reports compiled by independent watchdog—Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)— on candidates in first and second phase of Assembly elections in the State.
As many as nine women candidates contesting from phase one and two constituencies are facing criminal charges ranging from serious to other offences under the Indian Penal Code. As many as three women candidates of a total 18 in phase-I and six among 34 in phase-II have criminal cases against their name in which charges have been framed by court.
According to the report CPI-Ml (l) candidate for Panki Kavita Singh; Independent candidate for lohardaga Jaiwanti Bhagat and Congress’ candidate for Bishunpur, Bobby Bhagat are among women candidates in phase-I are facing criminal charges.
Second phase includes some of the renowned faces like BJP candidate for Potka Maneka Sardar, Jharkhand Party Candidate for Simdega Menon Ekka, Jai Bharat Samanta party candidate for Jaganathpur Gita Koda, JVM candidate for Chaibasa Geeta Sundi, JMM candidate for Jamshedpur East Kamaljit Kaur Gill and Rashtriya Janadhikar Suraksha Party candidate from the same constituency Alpana Bose. However, none of the candidates have been convicted of the crime they have been accused of committing.
Meanwhile, the ADR’s report on phase-II candidates reveal that 60 candidates have declared criminal charges against themselves, 42 candidates have mentioned serious criminal charges they are facing and five candidates have declared cases of murder against themselves while 10 candidates are facing cases related to attempt to murder.
Notably, 223 candidates are in the poll fray post scrutiny and withdrawal for phase-II of Assembly election. like candidates contesting from phase-I constituencies, there is no dearth of crorepatis even in the phase-II of Assembly election.
As many as 37 candidates is poll fray in phase-II are crorepati and the average asset per candidate contesting in second phase is `59.21-lakh, says the report.