A total of 353 candidates (15 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases. In the last elections, 231 candidates (13 per cent) candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves, according to the ADR report.

A total of 57 of 119 BRS candidates and 85 out of the 118 Congress candidates have criminal cases against them. Out of the 2,290 candidates analysed in Telangana Assembly elections 2023, 521 (23 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, election watchdog ADR said in a report.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Telangana Election Watch have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 2,290 candidates, who are contesting in this election. Out of 2290 candidates analysed, 355 are from national parties, 175 are from state parties, 771 are from registered unrecognized parties and 989 candidates are contesting independently.

Out of the 2,290 candidates analysed in this election, 521 (23 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against them. In 2018 elections, out of 1,777 candidates analysed, 368 (21 per cent) faced criminal cases.

A total of 353 candidates (15 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases. In the last elections, 231 candidates (13 per cent) candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

A total of 45 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women and out of the 45, 3 candidates have declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376), and seven have cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves, while 27 candidates have declared cases related to Attempt to murder (IPC Section-307).

Out of 119 constituencies, 96 (81 per cent) are red alert constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where three or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. In the last elections, 78 (66 per cent) constituencies had three or more candidates with declared criminal cases.

The report revealed that among the major parties 114 (96 per cent) out of 119 candidates analysed from BRS, 111 (94 per cent) out of 118 candidates analysed from Congress, 93 (84 per cent) out of 111 candidates analysed from BJP and eight (89 per cent) out of nine candidates analysed from All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) have declared assets valued more than Rs one crore.

Telangana polls: Richest candidates

The top three richest candidates in this election belong to the Congress party. Gaddam Vivekanand who is contesting from the SC-reserved Chennur seat has total assets worth over 606 crore, followed by Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy contesting from Munugode seat who has assets worth over Rs 458 crore. Congress candidate from Palair Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy has assets worth over Rs 433 crore.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has declared assets worth over Rs 58 crore, according to the ADR report.

There are at least 25 candidates who have declared zero assets.

A total of 222 (10 per cent) female candidates are contesting in this election, while in 2018, 136 (8 per cent) out of 1,777 candidates analysed were women.