Candidates record dubious distinction

MUMBAI, September 9: They have taken the plunge into the hurly-burly of elections; some of them debutants in the fray. But among the 303 ...

MUMBAI, September 9: They have taken the plunge into the hurly-burly of elections; some of them debutants in the fray. But among the 303 candidates are 37 contestants who are no novices to skirmishes, political or otherwise, according to a dossier prepared by the Special Branch of the Mumbai police. These candidates have offences, both political and criminal, registered against them at various police stations.

The candidates 8212; 34 of the 267 for the Assembly and four of the 34 for the parliamentary elections 8212; will be under police surveillance till the hustings are complete.

Will the Mumbai electorate be discerning about the representatives they send to the House of People? Or are the past records of the people8217;s repesentatives too dismal to make a difference either way? With D-Day only two days away, all 303 candidates are keeping their fingers crossed.

Following is a party-wise break-up of candidates with criminal records for the Lok Sabha LS and Assembly elections respectively:
SHIVSENA: Two LS candidates: 1 Mohan Rawle has cases of assault and threats registered against him Byculla police; 2 Madhukar Sarpotdar : Arrested during the 1992 communal riots and charged with possession of firearms in 1993 Nirmal Nagar police

Assembly: 1 Shantaram Chavan: Obstruction of government servants, assault and threats under influence of alcohol Vikhroli and Pant Nagar police; 2 Dagdu Sakpal: Four cases including rioting, injury and attempt to murder. Also detained under the the National Security Act Kala Chowkie police; 3 Prakash Bhuwad: Two cases of rioting Colaba police; 4 Jyotiram Mane: Six cases of assault, rioting and three cases of extortion Dharavi police

Independents LS:

1 Mohammad Qureshi tops the list with 15 cases of injury, threats and rioting Colaba police registered against him between 1995 and 1999. Externment proceedings are pending against Qureishi as well.;

2 Ismail Makwana: Five cases of assault and threats D N Nagar policeAll thefollowing candidates are contesting the Assembly elections:
BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY: 1 Jai Prakash Thakur: Case of threat Malad; 2 Hemendra Mehta: Five cases of rioting Borivali

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NATIONALIST CONGRESS PARTY: NCP has totted up the maximum number of 7 candidates with criminal records. 1 Shivaji Rao Nalavade: Cases of rioting registered Ghatkopar and Saki Naka; 2 Parshuram Mirekar: Two offences of assault and injury Mulund; 3 Ashok Dhatrak: Three cases of rioting and obstructing government servants Colaba; 4 Vijay Kudtadkar: Two cases of assault and injury Worli; 5 Sachin Ahir: Allegedly involved in three cases of rioting, injury, violating the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, RAK Marg, Agripada and Park Site; 6 Baba Siddiqui: Two cases of rioting and threats Khar; 7 Ram Pandagle: