As per the report, 16% candidates accused in criminal cases, 10% in serious criminal cases and 28% are crorepati candidates.

As Lok Sabha polls draw near, 102 constituencies across 21 states brace for the electoral fray in the first phase. Ahead of the polls, an interesting data has emerged that out of the total 1,618 candidates, 16% candidates are with criminal cases, 10% have declared serious criminal cases against them, 7 candidates have cases related to murder, 18 have declared cases related to crimes against women, including rape, and 35 candidates have said they have cases related to hate speech against them.

The analysis by the private election watchdog Association for Democratic Rights (ADR) sheds light on these figures, gleaned from 1,618 affidavits scrutinised out of 1,625. Notably, 252 (16%) candidates have criminal cases, 161 (10%) candidates have serious criminal charges, and 450 (28%) of candidates boast Crorepati status, while 15 individuals have disclosed convictions.

The report, titled "Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender, and other Details of Candidates," was unveiled on Monday.

According to the ADR, Party wise candidates with serious criminal cases data states that among the major parties, 2 (50%) out of 4 candidates from RJD, 6 (27%) out of 22 candidates from DMK, 2 (29%) out of 7 candidates from SP, 1 (20%) out of 5 candidates from AITC, 14 (18%) out of 77 candidates from BJP, 6 (17%) out of 36 candidates from AIADMK, 8 (14%) out of 56 candidates from INC and 8 (9%) out of 86 candidates from BSP have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

ADR has also mentioned about red alert constituencies which are those constituencies where 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. In this category, out of 102 constituencies, a red alert has been declared in 42 (41%) constituencies.

CATEGORY WISE CANDIDATES WITH DECLARED CRIMINAL CASES:

PARTY WISE CANDIDATES WITH SELF-DECLARED CRIMINAL CASES:

Speaking about wealth, there are 450 crorepati candidates in the first phase with BJP having 69 candidates followed by Congress with 49, AIADMK with 35, DMK with 21, BSP with 18, and Trinamool and RJD with 4 each. These 450 out of the 1,618 candidates (28%) analysed have assets worth ₹1 crore or more.

Congress’s Chhindwara candidate Nakul Nath is the richest with ₹716.94 crore assets followed by Erode candidate Ashok Kumar (AIADMK) ₹662.46 crore and Sivaganga candidate Devanathan Yadav T (BJP) ₹304.92 crore. Three candidates who have declared the lowest assets are from the Congress.

The BJP has fielded 69 (90%) crorepati candidates while the Congress has fielded 49 crorepati candidates (88%) in the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 10 contenders in the first phase have declared zero assets in their affidavits, while the average asset per candidate contesting is ₹4.51 crore, the report says.

"Among the major parties 4(100%) out of 4 candidates from RJD, 35(97%) out of 36 candidates from AIADMK, 21(96%) out of 22 candidates from DMK, 69(90%) out of 77 candidates from BJP, 49 (88%) out of 56 candidates from INC, 4(80%) out of 5 candidates from AITC and 18 (21%) candidates out of 86 candidates analysed from BSP have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore.

Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 36 AIADMK candidates is ₹35.61 crores, 22 DMK candidates is ₹31.22 crores, 56 INC candidates have average assets of ₹27.79 crores, 77 BJP candidates have average assets worth ₹22.37 crores, 4 RJD candidates have average assets worth ₹8.93 crores, 7 SP candidates have average assets worth ₹6.67 crores, and 5 AITC candidates have average assets of ₹3.72 crores," the report reads.

PARTY WISE CROREPATI CANDIDATES

In terms of education, out of total 1,618 candidates examined, 26 are illiterate, 95 are 5

th

 pass, 133 are 8

th

 pass, 221 are 10

th

 pass and 190 are 12

th

 pass. A total of 225 candidates are graduates and 309 are post graduates. 639 (39%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard while 836(52%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. 77 candidates are Diploma holders. 36 candidates have declared themselves to be just literate and 26 candidates are Illiterates. 4 candidates have not given their educational qualification.

OVERALL EDUCATION REPORT

NOTE: SOURCE OF ALL TABLES GIVEN BELOW IS ADR

As per per ADR report, 135 (8%) female candidates are contesting in the Lok Sabha Phase I elections.

The Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases in the country, scheduled for April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The counting of votes will take place on 4 June.