Karnataka has been witnessing a worrying trend over past decade — an increasing number of winning candidates in the State Assembly elections have criminal cases against them. The percentage of winners with criminal cases rose from 35 per cent in 2018 to 55 per cent in 2023.
According to data, 122 of 221 winning candidates have criminal cases against them as compared to 77 in 2018. In 2013, there were 74 (34 per cent) MLAs had declared criminal cases against themselves.
One winner has a case related to murder against him, and three have declared cases of attempt to murder. Seven new MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women; one of them has declared case related to rape.
According to the Association for Democratic Reforms report,, 78 (58 per cent) of 134 winning candidates from Congress, 34 (52 per cent) out of 66 winning candidates from BJP, 9 (47per cent) out of 19 winning candidates from JD(S) and 1 (100 per cent) Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha winning candidate have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
55% MLAs in Karnataka face criminal cases
As for serious criminal cases, 40 (30 per cent) out of 134 winning candidates from INC, 23 (35 per cent) out of 66 winning candidates from BJP, 7 (37 per cent) out of 19 winning candidates from JD(S) and 1 (100%) Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha winning candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
About 45 per cent of the Congress, BJP and JD(S) candidates contesting the Karnataka elections face criminal cases, with nearly 30 per cent of them accused of serious offences, including rape and murder, the ADR said.
According to report, there are 217 crorepatis in the 224-member House, the Association for Democratic Reforms report also said. The number was at 221 in 2018.
According to the report, there has been no change from the situation in 2018 — 97 per cent of the newly elected candidates are crorepatis. The average assets per winning candidate amount to Rs 64.39 crore, as compared to Rs 34.59 crore in 2018. Around 81 per cent of the candidates own assets worth more than Rs 5 crore.
The Congress has yet again churned out the richest candidates, with the average assets of a newly elected Congress MLA amounting to Rs 67.13 crore. The party has eight candidates in the list of top 10 richest winners, and has claimed the top three spots as well. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar, who is one of the likely choices for the chief minister’s post is the wealthiest candidate, with assets worth more than Rs 1,413 crore.
