The Hindu

Bangalore, May 18: As many as nine candidates from three political parties, the BJP, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), who were elected to the Lok Sabha from Karnataka, have criminal records.

The National Election Watch, Karnataka, which released a report following the announcement of results on Saturday, said that the number of candidates with criminal records had increased to nine from four in 2004.

While BJP has six candidates with criminal records, the Janata Dal(S) has two and the Congress one. In all, 32 per cent of the elected members have criminal records, it said. National Election Watch has said that there are eight criminal cases of serious nature against the winners, including deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony besides voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class.

Crorepatis

Of the 28 Members of Parliament elected from Karnataka, only three have declared their assets to be less than Rs. 1 crore. They are the BJP’s S. Pakkirappa, who was elected from Raichur, Nalin Kumar Kateel from Dakshina Kannada and Anantkumar Hegde, who retained his seat from Uttara Kannada.

National Election Watch has said that the average assets of the winners are Rs. 7.36 crore and average liabilities Rs. 80 lakh. It pointed out that the average assets of elected MPs have increased from Rs. 1.21 crore in 2004 elections. Further, it said that three of the winners have not furnished their PANs.

On the educational background of those who have been elected, it said that 39.29 per cent of winners are graduates, 14.29 per cent are postgraduates or doctorates and 25 per cent have completed only 12th standard.