Ahead of the assembly polls in Gujarat, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Gujarat Election Watch (GEW) have analysed the MPs, MLAs, and candidates’ financial and criminal cases in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections since 2004. The information is based on the affidavits submitted by the candidates prior to the 2007, 2012 and 2017 Gujarat Assembly Elections and the 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019 Gujarat Lok Sabha Elections and By-elections to the Gujarat Assembly and Lok Sabha, respectively.
A total of 6043 candidates who have contested either parliamentary or state assembly elections since 2004 from Gujarat have been analysed by ADR and GEW. Out of these, a total of 685 MPs and MLAs have held seats either in the Parliament or state assemblies since 2004—all from Gujarat.
The data reveals that a total of 972 (16%) of these 6043 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. 511 (8%) out of the 6043 candidates analysed have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. Out of 685 MPs and MLAs analysed since 2004, 191, or 28%, have declared criminal cases against themselves, and 109, or 16%, have serious criminal cases.
The average asset value of all candidates (6043) analysed since 2004 is Rs. 1.71 crore. The average asset size of all MPs and MLAs (685) as analysed since 2004, is Rs. 5.99 crores.
Talking about the correlation between criminal cases and financial status, the analysis of the data has revealed that money power and muscle power have a large bearing on the outcome of the election results.
The average assets of 972 candidates analysed since 2004 with declared criminal cases is Rs. 3.81 crores, and for 511 candidates with declared serious criminal cases, it is Rs. 5.34 crores, while the average assets of 191 MPs and MLAs analysed since 2004 with declared criminal cases is Rs. 8.96 crores, and for 109 MPs and MLAs with declared serious criminal cases, it is Rs. 11.42 crores.