The number of MLAs in Madhya Pradesh with criminal charges against them has risen by six per cent, as compared to figures of the 2008 Assembly polls.

The National Election Watch (NEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said that out of 71 MLAs with criminal records, 48 MLAs are from the BJP (29 per cent) and 23 MLAs are from Congress have tainted records.

The two organisations have urged Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan not to give any constitutional post to any of these tainted MLAs. A total of 20 of such MLAs have been re-elected and the information gathered by the NEW and ADR after analysing affidavits filed before the Election Commission by candidates belonging to BJP, Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Number of MLAs with criminal charges rises by 6 per cent

Case details of senior BJP leader Kailash Vijaywargia, against whom six cases were pending as on 2008, were not available.