Only 9 per cent of the 1,352 candidates contesting in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections are women, while 18 per cent have declared criminal cases against themselves, the ADR said in a new report.
Seven candidates have also declared previous convictions, according to an analysis of the details of candidates standing for election in the third phase by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and The National Election Watch.
The third phase of the elections will be held on May 7. Among the 244 candidates with criminal records, five are facing murder-related charges, while 24 have been prosecuted for attempted murder cases.
In addition, 38 candidates have been linked to crimes against women and 17 declared cases related to hate speech.
The analysis, based on the sworn statements of the 1,352 candidates, has shed light on trends in crime and wealth accumulation among political aspirants.
The prevalence of criminal cases varies significantly across major political parties, and the figures highlight worrying trends among candidates from prominent parties such as the BJP, Congress and Samajwadi Party.
The report also highlighted the disparity in the candidates’ financial backgrounds. It revealed that 29 per cent or 392 candidates are “crorepatis”, with an average asset per candidate of Rs 5.66 million.
The top three candidates in terms of declared assets have wealth ranging into hundreds of crores, with the highest declared assets exceeding Rs 1,361 crore.
Since the filing of nominations and affidavits, the Congress candidate from Indore withdrew his candidature.
The analysis also delves into the educational and demographic background of the candidates. The report indicates that 47 percent or 639 candidates have educational qualifications from grades 5 to 12, while 44 percent or 591 are graduates or possess higher educational qualifications.
In terms of age, 30 percent or 411 candidates fall within the 25-40 years group, while 53 percent or 712 are between 41 and 60 years.
The report also highlights the gender disparity in candidate selection: only 9 percent or 123 women participated in the third phase elections.
In response to these findings, the ADR has proposed strict measures to address the criminalization of politics, including the permanent disqualification of candidates convicted of heinous crimes and the cancellation of tax exemptions for political parties fielding “tainted” candidates.
The report underscored the pressing need for accountability and transparency within India’s political landscape, emphasizing the importance of electoral reforms to uphold the integrity of the democratic process.
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