According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 30% of the candidates fighting polls in Karnataka are tainted. This, against 27% from the BJP, ADR had analysed candidates for 498 seats.
The name drawing the biggest ire for Congress is Ashok Kheny who is contesting from Bidar South. He has been accused of forgery, land grabbing, and murder in relation to a road project. Incidentally, the K Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had been probing these charges and a joint legislative committee formed 2014 had recommended criminal action against Kheny in 2017. However, now he has become important to garner Lingayat vote bank.