The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : “Don’t field candidates facing criminal charges”

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Saturday, Mar 14, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

“Don’t field candidates facing criminal charges”

Over 1,200 NGOs take up nationwide campaign

NEW to expose those with criminal background: ADR
List of candidates facing criminal charges released

HYDERABAD: The Association for Democratic Rights spearheading the National Election Watch, a nationwide campaign of over 1,200 NGOs working on electoral reforms, has urged political parties not to field candidates with criminal and corrupt backgrounds.

The ADR asserted that NEW, Andhra Pradesh, is committed to expose candidates with criminal background and inform voters about the background of all candidates. NEW released the list of candidates facing criminal charges who contested the previous elections and also the details of the cases registered against them.

In all, 52 candidates with criminal charges contested the previous election among whom 29 won.

The list also has the name of CPI deputy general secretary and MP, Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, whose constituency Nalgonda had been placed among the 20 red alert constituencies across the country.

Union Minister too

Union Minister Renuka Chowdhury, Congress MP Vundavalli Aruna Kumar and Ch. Harirama Jogaiah, who switched loyalties to Praja Rajyam, also figure in the list.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, ADR chairman Trilochan Sastry said the list was prepared on the basis of the information available in the affidavits filed by candidates before the previous elections. Replying to queries, Prof. Sastry said NEW did not make an in-depth analysis of the cases filed against the candidates.

Informing voters

It was not branding anyone and it was only keeping voters informed about the candidates on the basis of the facts filed by the latter.

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Andhra Pradesh