Out of 28 candidates facing serious criminal cases, two candidates have declared charges related to rape (IPC Section 376) while four candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section 302, the ADR said.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday fielded two women as candidates in the Odisha Assembly elections instead of their husbands who were incumbent MLAs in the outgoing Assembly.
Five-time Chief Minister Patnaik had also fought from two seats in 2019 Assembly polls.
Polling will be held in four phases, begining form May 13 and ending on June 1.
