More crorepatis, more criminals in 2nd phase fray

Nearly 300 candidates with criminal charges against them will test the electoral waters in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections and a similar number of crorepatis will also vie to enter the House.

At least 288 candidates with pending criminal cases against them are fighting it out in 141 constituencies across 13 states in the second phase, 133 of whom have serious cases lodged against them, says a report by the independent body, Association of Democratic Rights (ADR).

An equal number of candidates with assets in crores will also be contesting for electoral supremacy in the April 23 round, it said.

Congress has topped the list of parties fielding the maximum number of people with pending criminal cases as well as that of the number of crorepati candidates in the second phase of the election, it said.

While Congress has fielded 40 candidates with charges against them, BSP and BJP have 31 and 27 such candidates.

The first phase of election, held on April 16, saw 222 candidates with pending criminal cases in the fray while at least 193 millionaires were in the race.

The percentage of contesting crorepatis in the second phase is over 17 per cent as against 14 per cent in the first phase.