12 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women
Gomantak Times
As many as 26 per cent of the 301 candidates who are contesting in the coming assembly elections in Goa have criminal cases against them, compared to 15 per cent of the 251 candidates in 2017 assembly polls, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The Goa Election Watch and the ADR have analysed self-sworn affidavits of 301 candidates who are contesting in the assembly polls. Goa, which has 40 assembly seats, is going to polls on February 14.
Out of the 301 candidates, 53 candidates (26%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves, compared to 19 (8%) in 2017 assembly polls.
The criteria for serious criminal cases include offences for which maximum punishment is of five years or more, if the offence is non-bailable, offences related to assault, murder, kidnap, rape, offences under Prevention of Corruption Act, crimes against women and a few others.
Congress candidates have declared more criminal cases against them compared to the candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Among the major parties, 17 (46%) of the 37 candidates analysed from the Congress, 10 (25%) of the 40 candidates analysed from the BJP, 9 (23%) of the 39 candidates analysed from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), 6 (23%) of the 26 candidates analysed from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and 6 (46%) of the 13 candidates analysed from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
When it comes to serious criminal cases, 13 (35%) of the Congress’s 37 candidates, 7 (18%) of the BJP’s 40 candidates, 4 (10%) of the AAP’s 39 candidates, 2 (15%) of the NCP’s 13 candidates, 4 (15%) of the TMC’s 26 candidates and 3 (23%) of the MGP’s 13 candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
12 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women, including one related to rape. Eight candidates have attempt to murder case declared against them.
"All major parties contesting in Goa elections have given tickets to 23 % to 46 % candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. The Supreme Court in its directions dated 13th February, 2020 had specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates," the ADR report points out.
Out of the 301 candidates, 187 (62%) candidates have assets in crores of rupees, compared to 156 (62%) such candidates in 2017 elections.
Three candidates with highest assets include the Congress’s Delilah Lobo from Laksar Siolim with over Rs 92 crore total assets, her husband, Michael Lobo from Calangute with over Rs 92 crore total assets and the Congress’s Chandrakant Shetye from Bicholim with Rs 59 crore total assets.
Three candidates who have declared lowest assets include Jaganath Gaonkar from Siolim with assets worth over Rs 25,000, Devidas Gaonkar from Valpoi with assets worth over Rs 25,500 and Kanay Pagi with assets worth over Rs 64,000.
Among the major political parties, 38 (95%) of the 40 candidates analysed from the BJP, 32 (87%) from the Congress, 24 (62%) from the AAP, 9(69%) from the MGP and 17 (65%) from the TMC have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore. The average of assets per candidate is Rs 6.46 crores, while in 2017 elections the average assets per candidate was Rs 4.75 crore.
When it comes to educational qualifications, 138 (46%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between Class 5th and Class 12th while 127 (42%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above and 34 (11%) candidates are diploma holders. Two candidates have declared themselves to be just literate.
