Ahmedabad: Bharatiya Janata Party has topped in fielding nine candidates with criminal records, including some with serious charges, while Congress has fielded four such candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.
As per candidates' affidavits submitted along with their nomination forms, besides these two major parties, the Nationalist Congess Party (NCP) and the Janata Dal United (JDU) too have fielded candidates facing severe criminal charges, while an AAP candidate faces a case of defamation.
Three Congress candidates out of the 26 in the state, are yet to file their nomination papers. BJP's list includes former deputy prime minister LK Advani from Gandhinagar seat, CR Patil from Navsari, Devji Fatepura from Surendranagar, Vitthal Radadiya from Porbandar, Rajesh Chudasma from Junagadh, Prabhatsinh Chauhan from Panchamhal, Naran Kachhadiya from Amreli, Prabhu Vasava from Bardoli and Dilip Patel from Anand.
Vitthal Radadiya, who switched over to the BJP in 2012, has the largest number of criminal cases against him including rioting, criminal assault, damage to public property, criminal intimidation and death threats.
In ten of these cases, FIRs have been lodged by the police, though all of those cases are pending at present.
NCP's candidate from Porbandar seat Kandhal Jadeja, follows his rival Vitthal Radadiya of the BJP, with nine FIRs against him.
Kandhal, son of the deceased 'Godmother' Santok Jadeja, has been charged in cases of severe crime including smuggling of arms under TADA, criminal assault with intention of murder, kidnapping as well as extortion.
JDU's Kishor Vasava, son of MLA Chhotu Vasava, has also been named in nine FIRs under the Arms Act, besides assault and criminal intimidation.
Other BJP candidates who are allegedly involved in serious charges include Rajesh Chudasma from Junagadh seat, who as per his affidavit, could be booked for more than two years.
Another BJP candidate from Amreli, Naran Kachhadiya, has been named for attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and booked under the Atrocities Act for using derogatory remarks indicating caste.
In his affidavit, Advani has mentioned that a case related to the Babri Masjid demolition is pending against him.
Prabhu Vasava, who has switched over to the BJP in February, has also been booked under the sections of the Atrocities Act and was also allegedly involved in two cases of assault.
Similarly, present BJP MP and Lok Sabha candidate from Panchamahal, Prabhatsinh Chauhan, has also been booked in the cases of criminal conspiracy and allegedly involved in criminal breach of trust.
One of the richest candidate, namely CR Patil of the BJP from the Navsari Lok Sabha seat is allegedly involved in crime related to financial irregularities, with three cases pending against him before the recovery tribunal of the state and one case pending before the Surat judicial magistrate's court.
Congress candidate Himmatsinh Patel, who will take on BJP's Paresh Rawal and Congress candidate Madhusudan Mistry standing against BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi, are allegedly involved in unlawful assembly as well as damaging public property.
Another Congress candidate Kunvarji Bavaliya is named in a case of cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, while the Congress candidate from Valsad Kishan Patel is allegedly involved in damaging public property and breaching the Forest Act.
AAP's candidate from Amreli, Nathalal Sukhadiya has been booked in a case of defamation filed, which is pending before the high court.
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