Kolkata, Apr 5 (UNI) The Sikkim Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Friday stated that at least 4 candidates out of 150, about 3 per cent, contesting the Sikkim Assembly elections, have declared criminal cases against themselves.

In 2014 Sikkim Assembly Elections, out of 121 candidates analysed, 6 (5 per cent) had declared criminal cases against themselves.

There are 4 (3 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. In 2014 Sikkim Assembly Elections, 4 (3 per cent) candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

There are 2 (6 per cent) out of 32 candidates from Sikkim Krantikari Morcha and 2 (9 per cent) out of 23 candidates from Hamro Sikkim Party, have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

At least 2 (6 per cent) out of 32 candidates from Sikkim Krantikari Morcha and 2 (9 per cent) out of 23 candidates from Hamro Sikkim Party, have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their
affidavits.

Out of the 150 candidates, 64 (43 per cent) are crorepatis. In 2014 Sikkim Assembly Elections, out of 121 candidates, 50 (41 per cent) were crorepati.

Among the major parties, 26 (81 per cent) out of 32 candidates from SDF, 22 (69 per cent) out of 32 candidates from Sikkim Krantikari Party, 5 (22 per cent) out of 23 candidates from Hamro Sikkim Party, 4 (33 per cent) out of 12 candidates from BJP, and 1 (4 per cent) out of 24 candidates from INC candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.

The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Sikkim Assembly Elections is Rs 3.89 Crores. In 2014 Sikkim Assembly Elections, average assets per candidate for 121 candidates was Rs 2.94 crores.

Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 32 SDF candidates is Rs 8.23 crores, 32 Sikkim Krantikari Morcha candidates is Rs 4.33 crores, 24 INC candidates have average assets of Rs 17.23 lakhs, 23 Hamro Sikkim Party candidates have average assets worth Rs 2.69 crores, 13 Sikkim Republican Party candidates have average assets worth Rs 44.09 lakhs, and 12 BJP candidates have average assets worth Rs 1.13 crores.

Out of 150 candidates, 25 ( 17 per cent) candidates’ spouse, HUF and dependents have more than 60% of the total assets declared in the affidavit.

There are 2 candidates have declared their ITR details. As per section 10 (26) of IT Act 1961, a member of ST residing in specific area of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura or Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir is exempt from paying IT.