New Delhi: The Lok Sabha elections in Assam came to an end with polling in four of the 14 seats in the state in the third phase on Tuesday.
As many as 54 candidates were in the fray from four Lok Sabha seats in the state. According to a report of Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), out of the total 54 candidates, eight candidates (15 percent) have criminal cases against them.
One candidate from the Congress, one from AITC, one from RPI (A), one from the AGP, two from the AIUDF and two independent candidates have criminal cases registered against them.
In Kokrajhar, which mostly crisscrosses through the Bodo Territorial Administrative Districts, Naba Saraniya, independent sitting MP and a former commander of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), is hoping for a repeat of polarization of the 70 percent non-Bodos vote in his favour.
Sarania was a hard-core rebel with cases of murder and kidnapping registered against him.
"It is a serious issue. Northeast had always witnessed free and fair elections. The trend of candidates with criminal records and cases was not there," said Deepak Diwan, a senior and independent journalist.
Diwan who is well aware about the developments in northeast said that this trend in northeast is a mere reflection from few other states.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal has seven cases registered against him including 2 charges related to promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, etc.
Ajmal is contesting from Dhubri Lok Sabha seat. Another AIUDF candidate Rafiqul Islam, Independent candidate Uttam Kr Ray, AITC's Manoj Sharma, Congress's Abu Taher Bepari have criminal cases registered against them.
Also Read: Polling concludes in Assam, 78.29 per cent voter turnout recorded
