In the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, 12 out of 40 candidates have disclosed criminal cases pending against them. 

Among these, eight candidates face serious criminal charges.

One candidate has a murder case pending against him, while four others have cases related to attempted murder.

Cases related to crimes against women are also pending against some candidates.

Notably, the number of candidates with declared criminal cases has increased by 10% compared to the 2019 elections.

Santosh Dora of the National Bharata Nirmana Seva Party (NBNSP), contesting from the Sundargarh Lok Sabha seat, has a murder case pending against him.

Janardan Dehury of the Congress from Sundargarh, Pradeep Purohit of the BJP from Bargarh, Subash Mohapatra of the Congress from Cuttack, and Balram Singh Yadav, an Independent candidate from Balangir, have declared cases related to attempted murder.

The highest percentage (80%) of BJP candidates have declared criminal cases.

20% of the candidates each are from the BJD and Congress.

Four out of five BJP candidates and one each from the BJD and Congress have criminal cases pending against them.

Additionally, two Independent candidates and one candidate each from the National Apni Party (NAP), National Jan Dal (NJD), Sanatan Sanskriti Raksha Dal, and Naba Bharata Nirmana Seva Party (NBNSP) have criminal cases