Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Out of 1594 third phase candidates, 341 facing criminal charges

In the third phase of the elections, 230 (14%) out of 1594 candidates have declared that they are facing serious criminal cases.

The Lok Sabha polls are being conducted in seven phases between April 11 and May 19. The election results will be declared on May 23. / Representational Picture (AFP)

NEW DELHI: Thousands of voters queued up outside polling centres early on Tuesday morning for the third phase of Lok Sabha polls. Out of 1594 candidates contesting in the polls, 341 (21%) candidates have declared they are facing criminal cases. 230 (14%) out of 1594 candidates have declared that they are facing serious criminal cases while 14 candidates declared convicted cases. The third phase of elections for Lok Sabha is being conducted today in Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar and some other states. In the states, Among the key contestants in the fray are BJP chief Amit Shah (Gandhinagar, Gujarat), Congress president Rahul Gandhi (Wayanad, Kerala), and Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav (Mainpuri, UP). Criminal Background -          Candidates with Criminal Cases - 341 (21%) out of 1594 candidates -          Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases – 230 (14%) out of 1594 candidates -          Candidates with Declared Convicted Cases - 14 candidates -          Candidates with cases related to Murder: 13 candidates -          Candidates with cases related to Attempt to Murder - 30 candidates -          Candidates with cases related to Kidnapping - 14 candidates -          Candidates with cases related to Crime against Women - 29 candidates -          Candidates with cases related to Hate Speech - 26 candidates Here Is Party Wise candidates with criminal cases

Party	Total candidates	Candidates with criminal background	Percentage of criminal background candidates
Congress	90	40	44%
BJP	97	38	39%
BSP	92	16	17%
CPM	19	11	58%
Shiv Sena	22	7	32%
SP	10	5	50%
NCP	10	6	60%
Trinamool	9	4	44%

  Party Wise candidates with serious criminal cases (Offence for maximum punishment – 5 years)

Party	Total candidates	Candidates with criminal background	Percentage of criminal background candidates
Congress	91	24	27%
BJP	97	26	27%
BSP	92	9	10%
CPM	20	7	32%
Shiv Sena	22	6	27%
SP	10	5	50%
NCP	10	4	40%
Trinamool	9	4	44%

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and a host of Union ministers among others canvassed for their party candidates in the past few days, undertaking whirlwind tours of constituencies. The Lok Sabha polls are being conducted in seven phases between April 11 and May 19. The election results will be declared on May 23.