Hyderabad: Of the 365 candidates contesting the Assembly elections on December 7, 181 cutting across all major political parties have been booked for criminal misconduct of various kinds human trafficking, crimes against women, rioting, attempt to murder, and so on. If a majority of those on this list win, more than half the legislators sitting in the Assembly will have criminal antecedents.
An analysis has concluded that parties have given tickets to winnable candidates irrespective of their records.
The TRS, knowing the background of Bodham candidate (Nizamabad district) Shakil Aamir Mohammad gave him a ticket. He has been booked by IGI airport police, New Delhi and probed by the CBI in a human trafficking case. The Patiala court is currently hearing the case. The Congress' Jaya Prakash Reddy, candidate from Sanga Reddy has been booked for trafficking in women.
Of the AIMIM's eight contestants, seven are facing serious charges. Yakutpura AIMIM candidate Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri is booked under section 341, 186 & 353 of the IPC (wrongful restraint obstructing public servant from discharging his/her duty). Ahmed Bin Balala, contesting from Malakpet has been booked for rioting and unlawful activities. Second in command of the party, Akbaruddin Owasi, has seven cases against him.
The BJP has nominated 40 candidates who have been named in criminal cases. Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh has been booked in an astounding 101 cases; he is known for hate speeches and acts, creating unrest among communities.
“The analysis found that candidates like TRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao were booked during the Telangana agitation, but there are many candidates charged with crimes that are serious in nature. Many cases are pending since six or seven years,” said M Padmanabha Reddy, former IRS officer and member of Telangana Election Watch. “Out of 365 candidates, 181 have cases against them. Out of the above, if more such candidates win, more than half the MLAs in the new Assembly will have cases against them.”
