By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 27, 2019: As many as 67 newly-elected legislators out of 146 members of the 16th Odisha Assembly are facing criminal charges, according to a report published by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The report says that criminal cases are pending against 46% of the total members of the Odisha Assembly. In 2014 polls, 52 MLAs or 35% of the total legislators were facing criminal cases.

Some 49 legislators are facing serious criminal charges such as murder, attempt to murder and kidnapping. While murder cases are pending against two MLAs, cases of attempt to murder are pending against 11 legislators of the 16th Odisha Assembly.

In terms of parties having legislators with criminal antecedents, BJD leads the race. Criminal cases are pending against 46 of 112 party legislators elected by voters during the recently concluded elections. Of them 33 MLAs are facing serious criminal charges.

The report added that 14 of 23 BJP legislators are accused in several cases. Of them 10 are facing serious criminal cases. Similarly, in Congress party, 6 of the 9 newly-elected party MLAs are accused in several cases, the report added.