Assam polls: 30 candidates with criminal charges in phase-1

Thirty candidates have criminal charges against them, including a minister and five sitting MLAs, out of the 539 contestants in 65 consituencies going to polls in the first phase in Assam tomorrow.

Altogether 25 candidates have cited serious criminal cases related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women etc. in their affidavits submitted while filing their nominations, according to a report of the Association of Democratic Reforms based on the affidavits filed by the candidates.

Industries and Commerce Minister Siddeque Ahmed contesting to retain his Karimganj (South) seat in Barak Valley has charges of cheating related to property and criminal conspiracy under Sections 120B and 420 of IPC.

Congress legislator Rumi Nath from Borkhola along with other sitting party MLAs Debabrata Saikia, son of former Chief Minister late Hiteswar Saikia, from Nazira, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha from Karimganj (North) and Jamaluddin Ahmed from Badarpur have also mentioned cases pending against them.