Still, it’s not a blemish-free record. Fifteen per cent of the candidates from a total of 336 contesting the elections, have criminal cases pending against them. These include 39 candidates charged with wrongful restraint/confinement and 13 with cheating and forgery, while 15 have cases relating to criminal intimidations against them. The only exception is Sada Nand Chauhan, an LJP candidate, who has a case relating to attempt to murder, beside cases of forgery, criminal intimidation, unlawful assembly and death threats. Chauhan is a sitting MLA contesting the election for the third time.

The Himachal Pradesh Election Watch, a non-political organisation that has compiled a report on the candidates to ensure transparency, claims that 37 per cent of BJP candidates have criminal cases pending against them. The Congress candidates include Asha Kumari, a former minister contesting from Banikhet, Sudhir Sharma (Baijnath ) in Kangra and Chander Shekhar contesting from Dharampur.

“The cases are political and mostly include wrongful restraint, obstruction to public servants from performing their duties, breach of peace, disobedience to order, criminal intimidation and kidnapping,” says P.R. Ramesh, coordinator of the HP Election Watch. The report, says Ramesh, will be submitted to the Election Commission to ensure greater accountability and transparency in public life.

Says H.N. Kashyap, BJP state secretary: “The party has not fielded any candidate with a criminal record or criminal history. It was during the five years of Virbhadra Singh government that cases were slapped against MLAs and partymen for political victimisation. If the BJP returns to power, we will withdraw all of them.”

Some prominent candidates with criminal cases are BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal (case for defamation, obstruction to public servants and disobeying order), and eight BJP ministers, including J.P. Nadda, Ishwar Dass Dhiman, Roop Singh Thakur Narinder Bragta, Krishan Kapoor and Rajan Sushant.

Former BJP president and candidate from Shimla, Suresh Bhardwaj, has two cases of rioting and unlawful assembly, while two women candidates, Malvika Pathania and Renu Chadha, contesting from Nurpur and Banikhet, respectively, also have criminal cases against them.

Criminal Charges

Total candidates: 336

Attempt to murder: 1

Kidnapping: 4

Theft: 4

Wrongful restraint/confinement: 39

Extortion: 1

Cheating, forgery: 13

Criminal intimidation: 15

(Source: Himchal Pradesh Election Watch)