Fresh danger to democracy: Candidates with criminal records have better chances to win

By A Representative

In a new analysis, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) have found that out of 62,847 candidates who contested either Parliamentary or State Assembly Elections since 2004, as many as 11,063 18% had declared that they had criminal cases against themselves. Further, of the 8,790 candidates (8%) candidates had declared that they had serious criminal cases against themselves.
While this may be considered something “normal”, as things stand in India today, what should be an eye-opener to those who stand by democratic values is, there are greater chances of winning elections if the candidate does not have a clean record. ADR-NEW analysis suggests, there is 12% chance of winning election with a clean record, while the chance of winning election with serious criminal record is 23%.
Of the sitting Lok Sabha MPs with criminal cases, they are 162 (30%) out of 543 Lok Sabha MPs, who have declared criminal cases against themselves. Of these, 76 or 14% of the current Lok Sabha MPs have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. Then, 40 out of 232 (17%) sitting MPs from Rajya Sabha have declared criminal cases against themselves. Of these, 16 (7%) of the current Rajya Sabha MPs have declared serious criminal cases.
As for the sitting MLAs who have declared criminal cases, 1,258 (31%) out of the 4032 from all state assemblies have declared criminal cases against themselves. Of these, 15% of the current MLAs from all state assemblies have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Taken together, out of the total number of 8,790 MPs/MLAs analyzed since 2004, as many as 2,575 or 29% have declared criminal cases against themselves and 1187 or 14% have serious criminal charges. A party-wise breakup suggests that the Indian National Congress has 8% and BJP has 13% MPs/MLAs with serious criminal charges.
Analysis of the data has also reveals that money power and muscle power have a large bearing on the chances of winning of a candidate. The average assets of 2,575 MPs/MLAs (analyzed since 2004) with criminal cases is Rs 4.30 crore and for 1187 MPs/MLAs with serious criminal charges has been Rs 4.38 crore. This is against the average assets of all candidates being Rs 1.37 crore, and average assets of MPs/MLAs being Rs 3.83 crore.
An analysis of the candidates with criminal cases getting party tickets for the second time shows that of those with criminal records (4,181) as many as 1,072 of them had a criminal case against themselves when they fought elections for the first time. Of these, 788 had cases when they fought for the second time also. “This means political parties gave tickets to 74% of candidates with criminal records the second time also despite having information on their criminal background from previous elections”, comments ADR-NEW analysis.
But what is of even more interest is that, the total number of candidates with criminal cases still increased the second time as there were 507 other candidates (out of 4,181) who showed no criminal cases in the first election but declared cases in the second round of elections. “Therefore, the total percent of candidates with criminal records given tickets by political parties rose from 26% to 31%”, the analysis says.
“If one looks at serious criminal cases a similar picture emerges. Of 540 candidates with serious charges, 353 or 65% were given tickets for the second time also. In addition to them there were 289 other candidates with no criminal cases in the first election, but who had declared cases in the second round of elections. This also shows that the total percent of candidates with serious criminal records given tickets by political parties rose from 12% to 15%”, it adds.
The analysis shows that cases against 788 contesting candidates have been pending since their declarations in the previous election. “This means that these candidates with pending criminal cases continue to contest elections, while charges against them remaining pending in Courts without any resolution and some of them even continue to sit as people’ representatives”, ADR-NEW analysis suggests.
Party wise MPs/MLAs who have declared criminal cases suggests that 75% of MPs/MLAs who have got elected on Shiv Sena (SS) tickets since 2004 have declared criminal cases against themselves (out of 137 MPs/MLAs from SS, 103 have declared criminal cases). Further, 46% of MPs/ MLAs elected on RJD tickets since 2004 have declared criminal cases against themselves (Out of 125 MPs/MLAs analyzed, 58 have declared criminal cases). Also, 44% of representatives elected on JD (U) tickets since 2004 have declared criminal cases against themselves (out of 272 MPs/MLAs analyzed, 120 have declared criminal cases).
Party wise BJP & INC MPs/MLAs who have declared criminal cases suggests that 31% of MPs/MLAs elected on BJP tickets since 2004 have declared criminal cases against themselves (out of the 1,689 MPs/MLAs from BJP, 520 have declared criminal cases). Also, 22% of MPs, MLAs and MLCs elected on INC tickets since 2004 have declared criminal cases against themselves (out of the 2451 MPs/MLAs from INC, 527 have declared criminal cases against themselves).

Comments

Whither space for the marginalised in Kerala's privately-driven townships after landslides?

By Ipshita Basu, Sudheesh R.C. In the early hours of July 30 2024, a landslide in the Wayanad district of Kerala state, India, killed 400 people. The Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Vellarimala and Chooralmala villages in the Western Ghats mountain range turned into a dystopian rubble of uprooted trees and debris.

Election bells ringing in Nepal: Can ousted premier Oli return to power?

By Nava Thakuria* Nepal is preparing for a national election necessitated by the collapse of KP Sharma Oli’s government at the height of a Gen Z rebellion (youth uprising) in September 2025. The polls are scheduled for 5 March. The Himalayan nation last conducted a general election in 2022, with the next polls originally due in 2027. However, following the dissolution of Nepal’s lower house of Parliament last year by President Ram Chandra Poudel, the electoral process began under the patronage of an interim government installed on 12 September under the leadership of retired Supreme Court judge Sushila Karki. The Hindu-majority nation of over 29 million people will witness more than 3,400 electoral candidates, including 390 women, representing 68 political parties as well as independents, vying for 165 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Gig workers hold online strike on republic day; nationwide protests planned on February 3

By A Representative Gig and platform service workers across the country observed a nationwide online strike on Republic Day, responding to a call given by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) to protest what it described as exploitation, insecurity and denial of basic worker rights in the platform economy. The union said women gig workers led the January 26 action by switching off their work apps as a mark of protest.

'Condonation of war crimes against women and children’: IPSN on Trump’s Gaza Board

By A Representative The India-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN) has strongly condemned the announcement of a proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza and Palestine by former US President Donald J. Trump, calling it an initiative that “condones war crimes against children and women” and “rubs salt in Palestinian wounds.”

With infant mortality rate of 5, better than US, guarantee to live is 'alive' in Kerala

By Nabil Abdul Majeed, Nitheesh Narayanan In 1945, two years prior to India's independence, the current Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, was born into a working-class family in northern Kerala. He was his mother’s fourteenth child; of the thirteen siblings born before him, only two survived. His mother was an agricultural labourer and his father a toddy tapper. They belonged to a downtrodden caste, deemed untouchable under the Indian caste system.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

MGNREGA: How caste and power hollowed out India’s largest welfare law

By Sudhir Katiyar, Mallica Patel* The sudden dismantling of MGNREGA once again exposes the limits of progressive legislation in the absence of transformation of a casteist, semi-feudal rural society. Over two days in the winter session, the Modi government dismantled one of the most progressive legislations of the UPA regime—the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

MGNREGA’s limits and the case for a new rural employment framework

By Dr Jayant Kumar* Rural employment programmes have played a pivotal role in shaping India’s socio-economic landscape . Beyond providing income security to vulnerable households, they have contributed to asset creation, village development, and social stability. However, persistent challenges—such as seasonal unemployment, income volatility, administrative inefficiencies, and corruption—have limited the transformative potential of earlier schemes.

Search This Blog