Phase 1 poll: three or more candidates with criminal charges are present in 42 out of 102 seats
According to a poll rights organization, 42 of the 102 Lok Sabha seats up for election in the first round of the general election are in areas where three or more candidates are accused of crimes.
ADR, an organization dedicated to democratic reform, has examined the self-sworn affidavits of 1,618 of the 1,625 candidates running in the first round of the elections on April 19. Based on the organization’s study of the candidates’ affidavits, 16 percent (or 252) of the 1,618 candidates are listed in criminal proceedings, and 10 percent (or 161) of them are facing significant criminal accusations.
Nineteen candidates are connected to attempted murder cases, while seven have murder charges filed against them.
The Indian Penal Code (IPC) contains a section that charges one of the eighteen candidates who have declared cases relating to crimes against women in their affidavits. The ADR conducted the analysis in collaboration with National Election Watch, a coalition of civil society organizations that monitors domestic elections. According to the organization, hate speech incidents were connected to 35 candidates. According to the study, “red alert” constituencies make up 42, or 41%, of the 102 seats that are set to be decided in the first round of the seven-phase elections.
Constituencies designated as “red alert” are those in which the affidavits of three or more of the candidates running for office have disclosed criminal offenses.
The ADR said that the study also reveals the differences in wealth between the candidates, in addition to the disclosures of their criminal histories. It said that around 28% of candidates in the first round of the votes are “crorepatis,” meaning they have assets worth more than Rs 1 crore, based on affidavits. According to the ADR, the average assets per candidate are Rs 4.51 crore, with significant differences seen amongst political parties.
According to the analysis, out of all the major party candidates, all four of the RJD candidates, 35 (97%) of 36 AIADMK candidates, 21 (96%) of 22 DMK candidates, 69 (90%) of 77 BJP candidates, 49 (88%) of 56 Congress candidates, four (80%) of five TMC candidates, and 18 (21%) of 86 BSP candidates had declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore. Nakul Nath, a Congress candidate running from Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, has reported the highest net worth of Rs 716 crore.
