Himachal Pradesh Election Watch report suggests that 69 candidates in the fray for 2012 Himachal Assembly elections are facing criminal cases against them.
The its report Election Watchdog after analysing affidavits submitted by 445 out of the 459 candidates who are contesting the elections.
Report suggest that almost all major political parties, including Congress, BJP, CPM and HLP have given tickets to candidates with criminal backgrounds. Out of which Congress has given ticket to 16 candidates out of 68 with criminal background, while BJP has 7 out of 67. Similarly, BSP has 8 candidates out of 62, HLP has 6 of 32, AITC 2 out of 26, CPM 10 out of 16 and IND has 9 out of 98 candidates with declared criminal cases.
However 30 out of these 69 candidates are facing serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion pending against them. Of these 30 candidates, CPM has fielded 5, Congress 5, BJP has 4, HLP 1 and BSP has fielded 5 such candidates.
