West Bengal has surpassed the national average in the number candidates with criminal criminal charges, according to National Election Watch (NEW), a non-governmental organisation working parallely with the the Election Commission in the state.
While the national average of candidates with criminal charges is 17 per cent, in West Bengal it stands at 18 per cent.with criminal charges is 17 per cent, in West Bengal it is one percent higher than the national average with To reiterate the importance of casting one's vote in the 15th Lok Sabha elections and making a comprehensive choice as far as selection of candidates are concerned, the National Election Watch, (NEW) West Bengal chapter, a consortium of NGO and civil society organisations has started state-wide propaganda.
NEW is monitoring Lok Sabha elections and has looked into 134 affidavits of candidates belonging to different political parties from 14 constituencies.
"We have collected as much information as we could from the affidavits that have been submitted for the first phase of elections in the state. The purpose is to uphold these facts to the general public to help them make a rational choice. We have started campaigning through SMSes to enable voters to get information on candidates' background which includes criminal records, assets, liabilities and education qualifications to make a rational choice," said S Roychowdhury, chairman, NWE, West Bengal chapter. The organisation has also sent letters to 50 odd colleges and educational institutions in the state and adjoining districts to help them carry out awareness programmes among the first time voters. Of the 24 candidates with criminal record, the break up is : BJP has three candidates, JJM - 7, BSP - 2, AITC - 1, AIFB -1 and INC – 1.