The first round of the three-phased Karnataka Assembly polls boasts of 47 candidates with criminal cases filed against them.
By K.G.Vasuki
Bangalore, May 7 : The first round of the three-phased Karnataka Assembly polls boasts of 47 candidates with criminal cases filed against them.
According to a report released by the State Election Watch Committee, the Congress party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular), have candidates with criminal track records.
"In the first issue of criminalisation, we still find parties putting up lot of candidates with criminal records. It is really a matter of concern," said Trilochan Shastri, Convenor, Election Watch Committee.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders crisscrossing the state as campaigning assumes feverish proportions expressed confidence that their party would sweep the assembly polls.
Addressing a public rally here, senior BJP leader, Venkaiah Naidu said, "We are not fighting elections with any other party. We are fighting on our own. We will form a government on our own."
Senior leader Lal Krishna Advani placed emphasis on security and stability. He urged the people to vote for the BJP if they wanted good governance.
"Vote for good governance, vote for development, vote for security," Advani said.
Karnataka will hold polls for its 224-Member state assembly on May 10, 16 and 22.
The elections will be held for 89 constituencies in the first phase, 66 constituencies will go to polls in the second phase on May 16, while the remaining 69 constituencies will go to polls on May 22.
The counting of votes will take place on May 25.
ANI