New Delhi: More than one fifth of total members of legislative assembly (MLAs) in the five poll-bound states, analysed by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to a release by the New Delhi-based non-governmental organization that works to improve electoral processes. To be sure, the organization analysed 607 MLAs out of which 128 have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits during 2008 state elections.
Delhi tops the list with 29 out of its 68 analysed MLAs (43% of total analysed) having criminal cases against them, followed by Madhya Pradesh where 55 out of the 219 analysed MLAs (25%) have such cases against them.
India’s Election Commission (EC) announced polls to five states on Friday. Voting in Chhattisgarh will happen in two phases on 11 and 19 November, while Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on 25 November, Rajasthan on 1 December, and Delhi and Mizoram on 4 December. The counting in all five states will take place on 8 December.
ADR also said in its release that among all major parties, the Congress party had given tickets to 30% tainted candidates in Delhi and 31% in Madhya Pradesh during the 2008 assembly elections while the BJP gave tickets to 35% and 22% of the candidates in those states, respectively.
In terms of assets, 264 out of the 607 analysed MLAs had assets worth more than Rs.1 crore, according to the release. In terms of gender, only 11% out of the total 630 MLAs across the five states are women. While Mizoram has no woman representative in its assembly, the Delhi’s assembly comprises of only 4% woman.
