The Congress party nominee from south Mumbai Milind Deora on Monday alleged that the sitting MP and his opponent Arvind Sawant has a dubious criminal record and is unsuitable to be a lawmaker. Deora has appealed to the voters of South Mumbai to make a socially conscious and morally upright choice. Pointing to Sawant's affidavit, Deora said there are 13 criminal charges against the Shiv Sena leader and demanded that the sitting MP explain if he tried to "abuse and misuse" his influence in the Maharashtra government to get the cases withdrawn. According to Deora's affidavit, no criminal case is pending against him. "People of South Mumbai have to decide whether they would like to vote and be represented in the Parliament by an individual who has a criminal record that demonstrates his disregard for the law," a statement quoted Deora as saying. Deora noted that the Election Commission has made it mandatory for candidates, who have criminal records, to publish the same in three newspapers. "Sawant should immediately place his advertisements and honour the Election Commission rules," Deora said. Deora's statement comes close on the heels of an FIR filed against him at Lokmanya Tilak Marg police station on the direction of the Election Commission for violation of the model code of conduct. While campaigning in Zaveri Bazar area on April 4, Deora had made an appeal to the Jain community to not vote for the Shiv Sena as it had hurt their religious sentiments earlier. Following the remarks, Sena supporters had filed a complaint with the Election Commission on April 8. Deora is pitted against Sena's sitting MP Arvind Sawant for the seat. In a tweet, Deora has alleged that Sawant skipped 16 hearings of a fast track court set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to try elected representatives with criminal charges. "Is this delay an attempt to put pressure on the government to withdraw charges?" he asked. Sawant could not be reached for comments.

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