Press Release: West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021 Phase IV: Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other Details of Candidates
ADR India
Dear Friends,
Summary and Highlights
Criminal Background
- Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of 372 candidates analyzed, 81 (22%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
- Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 65(17%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
- Party wise Candidates with Criminal Cases: Among the major parties, 27(61%) out of 44 candidates analysed from BJP, 16(73%) out of 22 candidates analysed from CPI(M), 2 (22%) out of 9 candidates analysed from INC, 17 (39%) out of 44 candidates analysed from AITC and 1 (4%) out of 26 candidates analysed from SUCI(C) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
- Party wise Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: Among the major parties, 24(55%) out of 44 candidates analysed from BJP, 10(45%) out of 22 candidates analysed from CPI(M), 17(39%) out of 44 candidates analysed from AITC and 1(4%) out of 26 candidates analysed from SUCI(C) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
- Candidates with declared cases related to crime against women: 19 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women.
- Candidates with declared cases related to murder: 4 candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves.
- Candidates with declared cases related to attempt to murder: 16 candidates have declared cases related to Attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against themselves.
- Red Alert Constituencies*: 12(27%) out of 44 constituencies are Red alert constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
- The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in Phase IV of the West Bengal Assembly Elections as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 22% candidates with criminal cases. All major parties contesting in West Bengal phase IV elections have given tickets ranging from 22% to 73% candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. The Supreme Court in its directions dated 13th February, 2020 had specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates. As per these mandatory guidelines, the reasons for such selection has to be with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned. During the recent Bihar Assembly elections held in October, 2020 it was observed that political parties gave unfounded and baseless reasons like popularity of the person, does good social work, cases are politically motivated etc. These are not sound and cogent reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds. This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers.
Financial Background
- Share of wealth among candidates: The share of wealth amongst the candidates contesting in the West Bengal assembly elections 2021 phase IV is as follows:
|
Value of assets (Rs.) |
Number of candidates |
Percentage of Candidates |
|
5 cr and above |
16 |
4% |
|
2 crores to 5 crores |
22 |
6% |
|
50 lakhs to 2 crores |
76 |
20% |
|
10 lakhs to 50 lakhs |
96 |
26% |
|
less than 10 lakhs |
162 |
44% |
- Crorepati Candidates: Out of the 372 candidates, 65(17%) are crorepatis.
- Party wise Crorepati Candidates: Among the major parties 34(77%) out of 44 candidates analysed from AITC, 18(41%) out of 44 candidates analysed from BJP and One candidate each from BSP, INC and JD(U) have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.
- Average assets: The average of assets per candidate contesting in the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021 Phase IV is Rs 92.34 Lacs.
- Party wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 44 AITC candidates analysed is Rs. 4.36 Crore, 44 BJP candidates analysed is Rs. 1.90 Crore, 26 SUCI(C) candidates have average assets of Rs 17.73 Lacs, 22 CPI(M) candidates have average assets of Rs 33.64 Lacs and 9 INC candidates have average assets worth Rs 51.47 Lacs.
- High asset candidates: The details of top 3 candidates with highest declared assets, contesting in the West Bengal Assembly Elections Phase IV are given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Movable Assets (Rs) |
Immovable Assets (Rs) |
Total Assets (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
Ahmed Javed Khan |
South 24 Parganas |
Kasba |
AITC |
27,05,23,926 |
5,27,78,000 |
32,33,01,926 |
Y |
|
2 |
Manoj Tiwary |
Howrah |
Shibpur |
AITC |
5,78,57,703 |
14,55,00,000 |
20,33,57,703 |
Y |
|
3 |
Rathin Chakrabarty |
Howrah |
Shibpur |
BJP |
7,27,50,396 |
9,26,00,000 |
16,53,50,396 |
Y |
- Zero assets candidates: There are 2 candidates who have declared zero assets. The details of these candidates are given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Movable Assets (Rs) |
Immovable Assets (Rs) |
Total Assets (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
Binanda Sing |
South 24 Parganas |
Sonarpur Uttar |
IND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Y |
|
2 |
Shrilal Oron |
Alipurduar |
Kumargram (St) |
Kamatapur Peoples Party (United) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
N |
- Low assets candidates: The details of 3 candidates with lowest assets (excluding zero asset candidate) are given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Movable Assets (Rs) |
Immovable Assets (Rs) |
Total Assets (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
Noushar Ali Molla |
South 24 Parganas |
Bhangar |
IND |
500 |
0 |
500 |
Y |
|
2 |
Mistoo Das |
South 24 Parganas |
Jadavpur |
IND |
505 |
0 |
505 |
Y |
|
3 |
Megha Chatterjee |
South 24 Parganas |
Jadavpur |
IND |
517 |
0 |
517 |
Y |
Table: Candidates with declared lowest assets
- Candidates with high liabilities: 118(32%) candidates have declared liabilities in their affidavits. The details of top three candidates with highest liabilities are given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Total Assets(Rs) |
Liabilities (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
Ahmed Javed Khan |
South 24 Parganas |
Kasba |
AITC |
32,33,01,926 |
41,51,01,490 |
Y |
|
2 |
Ratna Chatterjee |
South 24 Parganas |
Behala Purba |
AITC |
12,81,38,795 |
6,66,30,530 |
Y |
|
3 |
Rathin Chakrabarty |
Howrah |
Shibpur |
BJP |
16,53,50,396 |
5,29,03,740 |
Y |
Table: Top three candidates with highest liabilities
- Candidates with high income as declared in the ITR*: The details of top 3 candidates with high income declared in ITR are given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
Party Name |
Constituency |
District Name |
Total Asset (Rs) |
Self Source of Income |
Spouse's Source of Income |
The financial year for which the last income tax return has been filed by candidate |
Total income shown by candidate in ITR (Self+Spouse+Dependent) (Rs) |
Self income shown by candidate in ITR (Rs) |
|
1 |
Rathin Chakrabarty |
BJP |
Shibpur |
Howrah |
16,53,50,396 16 Crore+ |
Medical Practitioner |
NA |
2020-2021 |
1,14,56,740 1 Crore+ |
1,14,56,740 1 Crore+ |
|
2 |
Dulal Chandra Das |
AITC |
Maheshtala |
South 24 Parganas |
13,73,22,155 13 Crore+ |
Business |
Not Applicable |
2019-2020 |
89,30,845 89 Lacs+ |
89,30,845 89 Lacs+ |
|
3 |
Ratna Chatterjee |
AITC |
Behala Purba |
South 24 Parganas |
12,81,38,795 12 Crore+ |
Income from Business, Rent and Bank Interest |
Not Known |
2019-2020 |
77,60,121 77 Lacs+ |
77,60,121 77 Lacs+ |
Table: Top 3 candidates with highest income as declared in ITR
- Undeclared PAN: A total of 17(5%) candidates have not declared their PAN
details.
Other Background Details
- Education details of candidates: 186(50%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard while 173 (47%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. 5 candidates are Diploma holders. 2 candidates are Illiterate and 6 candidates are just literate.
- Age details of candidates: 118(32%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years while 193(52%) candidates have declared their age to be between 41 to 60 years. There are 60(16%) candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years. 1 candidate has declared his age 89 years.
- Gender details of candidates: 50(13%) female candidates are contesting in the West Bengal assembly election 2021 Phase IV.
Recommendations of ADR
- To remedy the existing problem of criminalization is to immediately act upon the plausible solutions offered by various committees, civil society and citizens. The Supreme Court of India being the ultimate custodian of “Justice and Rule of Law” should reprimand political parties and politicians for their complete lack of will, reprehensible predilection and absence of required laws.
- Permanent disqualification of candidates convicted for heinous crimes like murder, rape, smuggling, dacoity, kidnapping etc.
- Disqualification of persons from contesting elections to the public offices against whom charges have been framed for having committed serious criminal offences punishable by imprisonment of at least 5 years, and the case is filed at least 6 months prior to the election in question.
- Cancellation of tax exemptions given to the political parties who field such tainted candidates.
- Bringing political parties under the Right to Information Act.
- De-register and de-recognise any political party if it knowingly puts up a candidate with a tainted background.
- Political parties should annually file the information on criminal antecedents of their Office Bearers and make such records available to the public, including NIL records.
- Disqualification of candidates furnishing false information in the election affidavit (Form 26).
- Ensure trial of cases in which the politicians are accused to be concluded in a time bound manner.
- Implementation of SC judgment dated 23rd September, 2013 (i.e provision of NOTA buttons on the EVMs) in its letter and spirit by ensuring a) if NOTA gets more votes than any of the candidates, none of the candidates should be declared elected, and a fresh election should be held; b) in the fresh election, none of the candidates in the earlier election, in which NOTA got the highest number of votes, should be allowed to contest.
Contact Details
West Bengal Election Watch
|
Dr. Ujjaini Halim State Coordinator |
National Election Watch/Association for Democratic Reforms
|
Media and Journalist Helpline
Email: a...@adrindia.org |
Maj.Gen. Anil Verma (Retd) Head National Election Watch, Association for Democratic Reforms 011 4165 4200, a...@adrIndia.org, |
Prof Jagdeep Chhokar IIM Ahmedabad (Retd.) Founder Member, National Election Watch, Association for Democratic Reforms |
Prof Trilochan Sastry IIM Bangalore Founder Member, National Election Watch, Association for Democratic Reforms |
Gautam Nagar
New Delhi-110 049
