New Delhi (TIP)- Despite serious concerns and Supreme Court directives, political parties continue to field candidates with criminal cases with impunity in elections across the country. In Madhya Pradesh, which goes to polls on November 17, as high as 53 per cent of Congress candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their poll affidavits, while 28 per cent of BJP candidates have declared such cases against themselves.
Significantly, 27 per cent of Congress and 10 per cent of BJP candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves, a joint analysis of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Madhya Pradesh Election Watch (MPEW), shows.
Also, the major parties have taken care to field wealthy candidates, highlighting the role of money power in the crucial polls. Among the major parties, 200 (87 per cent) of 230 candidates analysed from BJP and 196 (85 per cent) of 230 candidates analysed from Congress have assets over Rs 1 crore (crorepatis). Similarly, 39 (59 per cent) of 66 candidates analysed from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and 54 (30 per cent) of 181 candidates analysed from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have declared assets valued at more than Rs 1 crore.
Of the total 2,534 candidates analysed, 727 (29 per cent) are crorepatis. In 2018 polls, of the 2,716 candidates, 656 (24 per cent) were crorepatis.
The ADR and MPEW have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all the 2,534 candidates, who are contesting in the Madhya Pradesh 2023 Assembly Elections. Of the 2,534 candidates analysed, 711 are from national parties, 103 are from state parties, 553 are from registered unrecognised parties and 1,167 candidates are contesting independently.
Overall, of the 2,534 candidates analysed, 472 (19 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, which is higher than in 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections, when 464 (17 per cent) of 2,716 candidates analysed had declared criminal cases against themselves.
In all, 291 (11 per cent) of all candidates have declared serious criminal cases, which is the same as in 2018 elections percentage wise. Among other parties, 18 (27 per cent) of 66 candidates from AAP and 16 (9 per cent) of 181 candidates analysed from BSP have declared serious criminal cases.
Source: The Week