A report by the poll rights group Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed that out of the 264 candidates who are contesting in the first phase of Assam elections, 16 per cent of them has declared criminal cases against themselves.

As per the analysis carried out jointly by the Assam Election Watch (AEW) and ADR, a total of 259 of the 264 affidavits were analysed of which 41 (16 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

Moreover, 34 (13 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Five candidates have declared cases related to crime against women.

"Out of five candidates, one candidate has declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376)," the report said.

Two candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves and four candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against themselves.

"The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in the selection of candidates in Phase 1 of the Assam Assembly Elections 2021 as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 16 per cent candidates with criminal cases," the report said.

"Of the 259 candidates, 10 (31%) are crorepatis," the ADR report added.

The report further added that 97 (37%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between Class V to Class XII and 157 (61 per cent) candidates were graduate or above.

"Four candidates have diplomas and one candidate is just literate," the report added.

It was also revealed in the analysis that 67 (26%) candidates were aged between 25 and 40 years and 153 (59%) candidates were aged between 41 and 60 years.

"There are 38 (15 per cent) candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 and 70 years. One candidate has declared his age 85 years," the report said.

It may be mentioned here that the number of women candidates contesting the election in the first phase is just 25, which is 10% of the total nominations received.

"The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Assam Assembly Elections 2021 Phase I is ? 1.84 crore," the report said.