Out of the 2,188 candidates analysed, 320 (15 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, while 195 (9 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases.

• Congress has highest number of candidates with criminal or serious criminal cases against them
• Second, third and fourth highest are candidates from BJP, BSP and AAP respectively
• Out of a total of 2,188 candidates, 597 (27 per cent) are multimillionaires

Candidates with criminal cases contesting for the Rajasthan assembly election have shot up in number as compared to 2013. The number of multimillionaire candidates are also more this time.

The Rajasthan Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the affidavits of 2,188 out of the 2,294 candidates, who are contesting in the Rajasthan assembly election. Out of a total of 2,188 candidates analysed, 608 are from national parties, 209 are from state parties, 584 are from registered unrecognised parties and 787 candidates are contesting independently.

Criminal background

Out of all the 2,188 candidates analysed, 320 (15 per cent) candidates have criminal cases against them. In Rajasthan assembly election of 2013, out of 2,030 candidates, 224 (11 per cent) had declared criminal cases against themselves. While 195 (9 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases this time, in 2013 Rajasthan assembly election, the number was 140 (7 per cent).

Four candidates have cases related to murder, 25 candidates have cases related to attempt to murder, 11 candidates have cases related to kidnapping and 16 candidates have cases related to crime against women.

Among the parties, 33 (17 per cent) out of 198 candidates analysed from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 43 (22 per cent) out of 193 candidates analysed from the Indian National Congress (INC), 26 (18 per cent) out of 141 candidates analysed from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and 31 (17 per cent) out of 178 candidates analysed from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have criminal cases against them in their affidavits.

While 21 (11 per cent) out of 198 candidates analysed from the BJP, 27 (14 per cent) out of 193 candidates analysed from the Congress, 16 (11 per cent) out of 141 candidates analysed from the AAP, and 20 (11 per cent) out of 178 candidates analysed from the BSP have serious criminal cases against them in their affidavits.

There are 48 (24 per cent) constituencies in Rajasthan, which have three or more candidates with criminal cases.

Financial background

The share of wealth amongst the candidates contesting in the Rajasthan assembly elections is as follows:

179 candidates have assets worth Rs 5 crore and above. There are 212 candidates who have assets between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore. While 447 candidates have declared assets between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 2 crore, 600 candidates have Rs 10 lakh-Rs 50 lakh worth assets, and 750 have less than assets worth Rs 10 lakh.

The details of the top three candidates with the highest assets are mentioned below:

The candidate from Ganganagar seat Kamini Jindal of National Unionist Zamindara Party with the declared assets worth Rs 287 crore is the richest in fray.

Congress candidate Parasram Mordia, from Dhod seat, has assets worth Rs 172 crore. While BJP candidate Prem Singh Bajore, from Neem Ka Thana seat with assets worth Rs 142 crore, is the third richest.

Out of the 2,188 candidates, 597 (27 per cent) are multimillionaires. In 2013 Rajasthan assembly elections, out of the 2,030 candidates, 508 (25 per cent) were crorepatis. The average of assets per candidate contesting in the upcoming state elections is Rs 2.12 crore.

Among the parties, the average assets per candidate for 198 BJP candidates is Rs 6.88 crore, 193 Congress candidates is Rs 7.57 crore, 141 AAP candidates have average assets of Rs 75.70 lakh, 178 BSP candidates have average assets worth Rs 1.03 crore.

Other background details

1,034 (47 per cent) candidates have declared their educational qualification to be between class 5 and 12 pass, while 949 (43 per cent) candidates said they have educational qualification of an undergraduate or above. While 161 (7 per cent) candidates are just literate, 12 (1 per cent) candidates are illiterate.

182 (8 per cent) female candidates are contesting in the Rajasthan assembly election this year. In 2013 Rajasthan assembly election, 152 (7 per cent) out of 2,030 candidates analysed were women.

847 (39 per cent) candidates said they're between the age of 40 years, while 1,019 (47 per cent) candidates lie between the age group of 41 and 60 years. There are 318 (15 per cent) candidates who are 61 to 80 years, while four candidates are above 80.