Gujarat Polls: AAP lines most candidates with criminal cases in Phase 1; BJP bets on 'crorepatis'

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which usually banks on its "clean" and corruption free image has fielded 21% candidate with criminal cases in Gujarat's first phase elections. AAP is contesting on 88 seats out of the total 89.

The party has given tickets to 13% of candidates with serious charges such as murder, rape, assault, kidnapping, among others according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) data.

This time, 211 of the 788 candidates contesting in the first phase are 'crorepatis', with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accounting for 79 such nominees.


In the 2022 Gujarat first phase elections for 89 seats, 167 candidates out of total 788 candidates have criminal cases against them. One hundred of them face serious charges like murder and rape, etc, the ADR report stated on Thursday.

In the 2017 Gujarat Assembly polls, the total number of candidates with criminal cases stood at 238 with 60 candidates from Congress and 32 from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

As for figures in both the phases combined, AAP again tops the list with 43 candidates with serious crime cases, followed by Congress with 28 and BJP with 25. There are 181, 179 and 182 candidates contesting from AAP, Congress and BJP, respectively, in the polls for the 182-member state Assembly.

Kiran Patel, who is contesting on an AAP ticket from the Daskroi seat in Ahmedabad district, has a murder case lodged against him, according to PTI report. Kirit Patel, the Congress candidate from Patan seat, has been booked for an attempt to murder, while BJP's Jetha Bharwad, contesting from Shehra seat in Panchmahal district, is accused of rape, abduction, extortion, outraging the modesty of woman, etc.

(inputs from agencies)