As many as 101 candidates challenging for 93 Assembly seats in the second phase in Gujarat Polls are struggling with serious criminal cases like attempt to murder, rape and kidnapping among others.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), that investigated the affidavits of the nominees, issued the facts of criminal records and financial status and liabilities.

Of the 851 candidates in the Poll-battle, the ADR’s investigation of the affidavits of 822 recovered that 101strugle with criminal cases against them including 64 facing series allegations. Two BJP nominees Mahesh Bhuriya and Jethabhai Bharwad are facing charges while Mr. Bhuriya and Congress nominee Bhavesh Katara are having murder charges.

According the investigation, the ADR has recovered that 38 Congress candidates face serious criminal charges. This, the analysis shows, is a 10% increase in nominees with serious criminal charges compared to the party’s nominees for the 2012 Assembly polls.

Congress nominees of the 171, that is 12%, were facing such serious charges in 2012, 21. In present election, 38 of the 174 candidates, which is 22%, are facing such allegations, based on the affidavits lodged with the nomination papers before the EC.

The party-wise investigation recovered that 13 of the 86 BJP nominees were facing serious criminal allegations, while the Congress gave tickets to 18 such nominees for the second phase Polls in the central and North Gujarat.