Criminal charges were brought against 26% of Goa Assembly candidates

New Delhi: At least 26 percent of the candidates running in the Goa Assembly elections had criminal charges filed against them, with eight percent having cases filed against them for heinous offenses like murder. This was disclosed in a study released on Tuesday by the Goa Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). According to the research, the number of candidates against whom criminal proceedings have been filed in Congress is the most in the country. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are the next two political parties to enter the fray.

Assembly Election 2022:

An investigation by Goa Election Watch and the Association of Democratic Reforms revealed this on Tuesday in a report issued by both organizations. Of the total 301 applicants, 26 percent (77) have stated in their affidavits that they had charges ongoing against them in different courts, with eight percent of those cases being significant criminal prosecutions, according to the Department of Justice.

There are criminal charges filed against at least 35% of the candidates of Congress. This is followed by 23 percent of MGP candidates, 18 percent of BJP candidates, 15 percent each of the NATIONALIST Congress Party (SAKAMPA) and the Trinamool Congress candidates, and ten percent of AAP candidates and candidates from other parties.

According to the election monitor, 12 candidates have stated that they had had instances of crime against women filed against them, with one of those cases being a rape-related case. Eight candidates have been charged with attempted murder, and eight charges have been filed against them. There are a total of 301 candidates running in the Goa Assembly elections on February 14, with 116 representing national parties, 104 representing regional parties, 13 representing unrecognized parties, and 68 representing independent candidates.

Candidates' affidavits reveal that 187 of them (62 percent) are crorepatis or those who earn a lot of money. Approximately 31% of candidates have assets worth more than Rs 5 crore, while 16% of candidates have assets worth between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, 20% of candidates have assets worth between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 50 lakh, and only 9% of candidates have assets worth less than Rs 10 lakh, according to the ADR.

In accordance with the research, 95 percent of the BJP's presidential contenders are millionaires or above. 87 percent of the Congress, 69 percent of the MGP, 65 percent of the Trinamool, 67 percent of the GFP (Goa Forward Party), 62 percent of the AAP, and 12 percent of the NCP follow this lead. In the survey, it is said that Congressional Michael Lovo (Calangute) and his wife Delila (Seoulim) are the wealthiest candidates, with assets of Rs 92 crore each. Dr. Chandrakant Shete, an independent candidate from Bichaulim, now owns assets worth Rs 59 crore, according to the results of the election.