Kolkata:- During the press conference, West Bengal Election Watch (WBEW) associate with ADR (Association For Democratic Reforms) has shared details of the candidates contesting in the fourth phase West Bengal Assembly Election in which it reveals that nineteen candidates have declared cases related to Crime against women and four candidates have declared cases related to murder against themselves under the IPC section – 302. Additionally, 16 candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC section-307). However, the good sign is that there are 50 which means 13 percent of female candidates are contesting in the West Bengal election. Areas that WBSE covered during phase IV are Howrah part II, Hoogly Part II, South 24 Parganas Part III, Alipurduar, Coochehar, and the report covers contesting candidates in all these constituencies.
Furthermore, out of 372 candidates analyzed, 81 that is 22 percent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. The report has shown the number and parties who has declared criminal cases against themselves such as 27 out of 44 candidates analyzed from BJP, 16 out of 22 candidates analyzed from CPI (M), 2 out of 9 candidates analyzed from INC, 17 out of 44 candidates analyzed from AITC, and 1 out of 26 candidates analyzed from SUCI (C).
On the other hand, out of 372 candidates, 65 are crorepaties, and the party wise they are 34 out of 44 candidates analyzed from AITC, 18 out of 44 candidates analyzed from BJP and one candidate each from BSP, JDU and INC who have declared their assets valued more than Rs. 1 crore.