10% of Rajasthan candidates have criminal records
Some 19 of the 185 candidates in fray for the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan have a criminal record, according to an NGO report.
Some 19 of the 185 candidates in fray for the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan have a criminal record, according to an NGO report.
Only 80 candidates are graduates, and 18 are crorepatis, the report said.
Four of the candidates, all belonging to political parties, have reported serious criminal cases pending against them, Rajasthan Election Watch reported after analysing affidavits filed by the candidates for the May 5 Lok Sabha polls.
A sitting assembly member Ranveer Singh Gudha, contesting as Lok Jan Shakti party nominee from Jhunjhunu is facing 22 criminal cases including attempt to murder, kidnapping, armed rioting and theft.
While a case of murder is pending against BJP candidate from Alwar Cand Nath, Congress candidate from Jaipur Pratap Singh Khachariyawas is facing two cases including one under prevention of Sati Act.
Similarly, Moti Lal Meena of BSP has reported facing three criminal cases.
Declaration of assests show that there are 18 crorepatis in the poll fray with Congress nominee from Bharatpur Ved Prakash reporting highest assets of over Rs.60 crore. He is taking on former Maharaja Vishvendra Singh of BJP who owns assets worth Rs.5.47 crore.
Prakash has been followed by Meetha Lal Jain, an NCP candidate from Pali, who has reported assets worth over Rs.9.89 crore. Congress candidate from Pali Surendra Kumar Surana is third on the list of those having highest assets with assets worth Rs.5.96 crore. More PTI RB RP 04221727 D
Film actor-turned-politician Dharmendra contesting from Bikaner on BJP ticket has reported assets worth Rs.5.26 crore followed by Kartar Singh Bhadana who is contesting as BJP candidate from Dausa after resigning from Chautala ministry in Haryana disclosed assets worth Rs.3.82 crore.
Bhadana is contesting against Sachin Pilot, son of late Rajesh Pilot, who reported assets worth Rs.2.67 crore.
Senior Congress leader Buta Singh contesting from Jalore has assets worth over Rs.1.68 crore. He is being challenged by B.Susheela, wife of former BJP chief Bangaru Laxman, who has reported assets worth Rs.85.64 lakh.
Another senior Congress leader Balram Jakhar, contesting from Churu is having assets worth Rs.1.73 crore.
However, five contestants, including Shyopat Ram of CPM from Ganganagar and Dalip Singh of Indian National Lok Dal from Bikaner, reported that they had no assets.
Other three are independent candidates - Shabir Khan, Ramesh Chand and Lahra Ram Sargara from Churu, Alwar and Pali respectively.
Educationally only two - both independents - are illiterate. However, 26 are having professional qualifications like lawyer, engineer, doctor, management or PhD degrees.
As many as 54 are having graduate or post graduate degrees while others have reported education qualifications from primary to senior secondary levels.
However, 11 candidates, including Srichand Kriplani of BJP from Chittorgarh, did not report their educational qualification, the NGO said in its report.
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