Northeast Desk, 5th November: As Mizoram gears up for the upcoming assembly elections, a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Mizoram Election Watch highlights that seven candidates contesting this year have declared criminal and serious criminal cases against themselves. Out of the 174 candidates analyzed, representing various political parties, 7 individuals (4%) have declared criminal cases, with all of them (100%) involving serious criminal cases.
In comparison, during the 2018 Mizoram Assembly Elections, 4% of candidates declared criminal cases against themselves, with 2% having serious criminal cases. The report breaks down the data for different parties, indicating that 4 candidates from Zoram People’s Movement, 2 from BJP, and 1 from MNF have declared criminal cases against themselves.
The findings emphasize the importance of transparent and accountable elections, as well as the need for voters to be aware of the candidates’ backgrounds and criminal records before making their choices.