Lok Sabha Elections 2024: ADR Report Reveals 16% of Phase 1 Candidates Have Criminal Cases

New Delhi: Phase 1 of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 is set to kick off on April 19, spanning 102 Parliamentary constituencies in 21 states and Union territories. Ahead of the polls, a report by the National Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has unveiled crucial insights about the candidates.

According to the ADR analysis of self-sworn affidavits, 16% of the candidates contesting in Phase 1, amounting to 252 out of 1,618, have criminal cases against them. Among these, 10% have declared serious criminal charges. Shockingly, cases related to murder, crimes against women, and hate speech are among the concerning figures.

Political parties have also come under scrutiny, with the ADR report revealing that 36% of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates and 34% of Congress candidates have criminal cases filed against them. Notably, 100% of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidates face legal issues. The percentages for other parties stand at 59% for DMK, 43% for SP, 40% for AITC, and 13% for BSP.

In addition to criminal cases, the report sheds light on candidates’ financial backgrounds. Out of the analyzed candidates, 28% possess assets worth ₹1 crore or more. The BJP and Congress have a significant number of ‘crorepati’ candidates, with 90% and 88% respectively in Phase 1.

Remarkably, some candidates have declared zero assets, while the average asset per candidate stands at ₹4.51 crore. Notable wealthy candidates include Nakul Nath from Congress with assets exceeding ₹716 crore, Ashok Kumar from AIADMK with ₹662 crore, and Dhevanathan Yadav T from BJP with ₹304 crore.

Despite the Supreme Court’s directives, political parties seem undeterred, as they continue to field candidates with criminal backgrounds.