Five candidates have filed criminal charges against themselves, the study found.

Kolkata:

Affidavits to 10 out of 37 candidates for three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal – Jalpaiguri (SC), Cooch Behar (SC) and Alipurduar (ST) – are croprepatis Perform analysis.

The first phase of elections to Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar Lok Sabha constituencies will be held on April 19.

West Bengal Election Observation and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which reviewed the affidavits on Monday, said three independents, two each from the BJP and Trinamool Congress, CPI(M), Congress and RSS One candidate each is a corepatis.

CPI(M)’s Debraj Barman, who is contesting from Jalpaiguri (SC) Lok Sabha seat, has assets worth Rs 3,89,89,468, the highest among all seats. Chandan Oraon of SUCI from Alipurduar (ST) is the poorest with total assets of Rs 12,117.

The study found that five candidates had criminal charges filed against themselves, four of whom had serious criminal records.

A detailed analysis of the candidates’ academic qualifications showed that 16 of them had level 8 to 12 qualifications and 20 were graduates or had higher qualifications. One candidate declared himself illiterate.

A total of 21 candidates declared themselves to be between 25 and 50 years old, while 15 nominees claimed to be between 51 and 70 years old. One candidate is 71 years old.

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