The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Arunachal Pradesh Election Watch have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 142 out of 143 candidates, who are contesting in the Arunachal Pradesh 2024 Assembly Elections. One candidate namely Ratu Techi (BJP) contesting from Sagalee (ST) Constituency has not been analysed due to the unavailability of his clear and complete affidavit on the ECI website at the time of making this report. Out of 142 candidates analysed, 98 are from National parties, 27 are from State parties, 4 are from registered unrecognized parties and 13 candidates are contesting independently.

The full reports in English and Hindi  can be accessed here: https://adrindia.org/content/analysis-criminal-background-financial-education-gender-and-other-details-candidates-43

 Table: Party Category Wise Details

Summary and Highlights

Criminal Background    

• Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of the 142 candidates analysed in Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections 2024, 23(16%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections, out of 184 candidates analysed, 29(16%) had declared criminal cases against themselves.

• Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 20(14%) have declared serious criminal cases. In 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections, 26 (14%) candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Figure: Comparative analysis of Candidates with declared Criminal Cases: 2019 vs 2024

• Party wise Candidates with Criminal Cases: 11(19%) out of 59 candidates analysed from BJP, 4(21%) out of 19 candidates analysed from INC, 3 (20%) out of 15 candidates analysed from NCP, 2 (18%) out of 11 candidates analysed from Peoples Party of Arunachal, 2 (10%) out of 20 candidates analysed from National People's Party and 1 (8%) out of 13 independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
• Party wise Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 9(15%) out of 59 candidates analysed from BJP, 4(21%) out of 19 candidates analysed from INC, 3 (20%) out of 15 candidates analysed from NCP, 2 (18%) out of 11 candidates analysed from Peoples Party of Arunachal and 2 (10%) out of 20 candidates analysed from National People's Party have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Figure: Party Wise Percentage of Candidates with Criminal Cases

Table: Party Wise Candidates with Declared Criminal Cases: 2019 vs 2024

Figure: Party Wise Percentage of Candidates with Declared Criminal Cases: 2019 vs 2024

• Candidates with declared cases related to crime against women: 2 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of them, 1 candidate has declared case related to rape (IPC Section-376) and 1 candidate has declared case related to assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty (IPC Section-354).

• The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2024 as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 16% candidates with criminal cases. All major parties contesting in Arunachal Pradesh elections have given tickets from 10 % to 21 % candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. The Supreme Court in its directions dated 13th February, 2020 had specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates. As per these mandatory guidelines, the reasons for such selection has to be with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned. During the recent 5 State Assembly elections held in 2023, it was observed that political parties gave unfounded and baseless reasons like popularity of the person, does good social work, cases are politically motivated etc. These are not sound and cogent reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds. This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers. 

Financial Background

Figure: Share of Wealth among the Contesting Candidates

• Share of wealth among candidates: The share of wealth amongst the candidates contesting in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly elections 2024 is as follows:

Table: Share of wealth amongst contesting candidates

• Crorepati Candidates: Out of the 142 candidates analysed, 115(81%) are crorepatis. In 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections, out of 184 candidates, 131(71%) were crorepatis.

Figure: Comparative Analysis of Crorepati Candidates: 2019 Vs 2024

• Party wise Crorepati Candidates: The role of money power in our elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates. Among the major parties 57(97%) out of 59 candidates analysed from BJP, 16(80%) out of 20 candidates analysed from National Peoples Party, 13(68%) out of 19 candidates analysed from INC and 9(82%) out of 11 candidates analysed from Peoples Party of Arunachal have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.

Figure: Party Wise Percentage of Crorepati Candidates

Table: Party Wise Crorepati Candidates: 2019 vs 2024

Figure: Party Wise Percentage of Crorepati Candidates: 2019 vs 2024

• Average assets: The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2024 is Rs 18.13 Crores. In 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections, average assets per candidate for 184 Candidates was Rs. 9.86 crores.

• Party wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 59 BJP candidates analysed is Rs. 26.05 Crores, 20 National Peoples Party candidates analysed is Rs 16.95 Crores, 19 INC candidates have average assets of Rs 6.89 Crores and 11 Peoples Party of Arunachal have average assets worth Rs 8.95 Crores.

• High asset candidates: The details of top 3 candidates with highest declared assets, contesting in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2024 are given below:

Table: Top three candidates with highest declared assets

•  Low assets candidates: The details of three candidates with lowest assets are given below:

Table: Candidates with declared lowest assets

• Candidates with high liabilities: 64(45%) candidates have declared liabilities in their affidavits. The details of top three candidates with highest liabilities are given below:

 Table: Top three candidates with highest liabilities

• Candidates with high income as declared in the ITR*: The details of top 3 candidates with high income declared in ITR are given below:

Table: Top 3 candidates with highest income as declared in ITR

*Some Candidates may be exempted from filing ITR

** As per section 10 (26) of IT Act 1961, a member of ST residing in specific area of in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura or Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir is exempt from paying IT. 

• Undeclared PAN:  A total of 142(100%) candidates have declared their PAN details.

Other Background Details

• Education details of candidates: 46(32%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard while 90(63%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. 1 candidate is Diploma holder. 5 candidates are Illiterates.

• Age details of candidates: 24(17%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years while 104 (73%) candidates have declared their age to be between 41 to 60 years.  There are 14 (10%) candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years.

• Gender details of candidates: 7(5%) female candidates are contesting in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2024.  In 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections, 11(6%) out of 184 candidates analysed were women.

Comparative Analysis of Re-contesting MLAs in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Election 2024

Summary of comparison for re-contesting MLAs

• Number of re-contesting MLAs: Number of re-contesting MLAs analysed in the assembly elections of 2024 is 45.

• Average Assets in 2019 Elections: The average assets of these 45 re-contesting MLAs fielded by various parties including independents in 2019 was Rs 18.78 Crores.

• Average Assets in 2024 Elections: The average asset of these 45 re-contesting MLAs in 2024 is Rs 30.06 Crores.

• Average Asset growth in 5 years (2019-2024): The average asset growth for these 45 re- contesting MLAs, between the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections of 2019 and 2024 is Rs 11.27 crores.

• Percentage growth in 5 years (2019-2024): Average percentage growth in assets for these 45 re-contesting MLAs is 60%.

Top 5 Re-contesting MLAs with highest asset increase (Rupees- wise)

The following table provides the asset details of top 5 re-contesting MLAs showing highest increase in assets (Rupee wise):

Table: Top 5 Re-contesting MLAs with highest asset increase (Rupees- wise)

Recommendations of ADR

• To remedy the existing problem of criminalization is to immediately act upon the plausible solutions offered by various committees, civil society and citizens. The Supreme Court of India being the ultimate custodian of “Justice and Rule of Law” should reprimand political parties and politicians for their complete lack of will, reprehensible predilection and absence of required laws. 
• Permanent disqualification of candidates convicted for heinous crimes like murder, rape, smuggling, dacoity, kidnapping etc.
• Disqualification of persons from contesting elections to the public offices against whom charges have been framed for having committed serious criminal offences punishable by imprisonment of at least 5 years, and the case is filed at least 6 months prior to the election in question.
• Cancellation of tax exemptions given to the political parties who field such tainted candidates.
• Bringing political parties under the Right to Information Act.  
• De-register and de-recognise any political party if it knowingly fields a candidate with a tainted background.
• Political parties should annually file the information on criminal antecedents of their Office Bearers and make such records available to the public, including NIL records.
• Disqualification of candidates furnishing false information in the election affidavit (Form 26).  
• Ensure trial of cases in which the politicians are accused to be concluded in a time bound manner.
• Implementation of SC judgment dated 23rd September, 2013 (i.e provision of NOTA buttons on the EVMs) in its letter and spirit by ensuring a) if NOTA gets more votes than any of the candidates, none of the candidates should be declared elected, and a fresh election should be held; b) in the fresh election, none of the candidates in the earlier election, in which NOTA got the highest number of votes, should be allowed to contest.
• Implementation of the 25th September, 2018 and 13th February, 2020 SC orders on 'publication of criminal cases against candidates selected by political parties along with reasons for such selection' in its letter and spirit by directing the Election Commission of India a) to list out names of such tainted candidates selected by the political parties along with such reasons for such selection C8 including diligent publication of reasons in newspapers, T.V channels, party website etc, b) strict and constant reminders by ROs to the defaulters, c) list needs to be religiously prepared and submitted to the Supreme Court after every election, d) uploading of this list on ECI’s website for public inspection, e) a suitably heavy financial penalty levied on political parties for making insufficient disclosures, invalid and common reasons, selection of candidates based on winnability and f) Officer in-charge of a political party pertaining to submission of a compliance report should also be held accountable for such a breach. 
• The Election Commission of India and all State Election Commissions should make it mandatory in all elections; Parliamentary, Assembly and Local Body elections to carry display boards outside each and every polling booth showing a summarised version of candidates’ affidavits. The polling booths should essentially display details of candidate’s criminal records, assets and liabilities and education qualification.  
• The Election Commission of India under its ‘Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation’ (SVEEP) as well as through other national campaigns on voter awareness held before every election should inform and aware the voters that (i) taking and giving cash or gifts/freebies for votes is a criminal offense, (ii) such instances should be brought to the notice of the ECI through its web application, (iii) inform voters that information on criminal records of candidates is available on the ECI website, outside polling booths and other sources that the ECI may use.
• Political parties in India should be required to announce/publish the list of candidates contesting elections at least 3 months prior to elections.
• Role of money and muscle power is evident from the fact that all major political parties in Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2024 have fielded 68% to 97% candidates who are crorepatis and 10% to 21 % candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. This close and alarming nexus between money power and muscle power has got so ingrained in our electoral system that the citizens are left hostage to the current situation.  Money and muscle power hurt the principles of 'free and fair elections', 'participatory democracy' and 'level playing field'.  The present circumstances therefore demand an extensive deliberation by the voters so that sanctity of elections is not ridiculed by tenacious entry of tainted candidates and candidates with abnormal multiplication of assets.

Contact Details

Association for Democratic Reforms/National Election Watch/ Arunachal Pradesh Election Watch