Candidates with criminal profiles : In the Delhi assembly election, 19 per cent of the candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, while serious criminal cases (murder, assault, kidnapping, rape, atrocities against women and children) make up 12 per cent of the candidates. The presence of leaders with criminal backgrounds, from major national and regional parties to independent candidates, has raised questions about the sanctity of the electoral process.
Of the 19 percent candidates with partisan criminal cases, 33 percent are from the national party, 13 percent from the state party, eight percent from the registered party and 10 percent from the independent. In terms of serious criminal cases, this includes 18 percent of the national party, 10 percent of the state party, 6 percent of the registered third party, and 8 percent of independent candidates.
Notably, prominent parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Indian National Congress (Congress) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have also given tickets to candidates with criminal backgrounds. Criminal cases have been registered against 63 per cent of AAP candidates, 41 per cent of Congress and 29 per cent of BJP candidates. In the category of serious criminal cases, 41 per cent of the AAP, 19 per cent of the Congress and 13 per cent of the BJP candidates.
Status of candidates according to parties
If compared by the total number of candidates, the national party has 278 candidates in the fray, of which 21 are mostly involved in criminal cases, while 18 percent have serious criminal cases. Of the total state parties, 13 per cent have a criminal profile, with 10 per cent having serious cases. Of the other parties registered, eight percent have criminal prosecution, while six percent have serious lawsuits. Of the independent candidates, 10 per cent are accused in criminal background and eight per cent in serious cases.
The number has decreased compared to the 2020 election
Compared to the last assembly elections (2020), there has been a slight decline in the number of candidates with criminal background. In 2020, 20 per cent (133) of candidates had declared criminal cases against them, while 15 per cent (104) had serious charges. This time, the figure has come down to 19 per cent (132) and 12 per cent (81 per cent). However, the increasing number of criminals in the electoral process still remains a matter of concern.
Need for electoral reforms
The increasing number of candidates with criminal records in the elections is becoming a serious challenge to democracy. The Supreme Court and the Election Commission are making steady efforts towards increasing transparency, but political parties giving tickets to candidates with criminal records show that morality is being compromised in the race for power. Experts believe that political parties should avoid volunteering to give tickets to such candidates.
Party, Total Candidates, Candidates with Criminal Case, Candidates with Serious Criminal Case
- National Party, 278, 94, 51, 21
- State Party, 29, 4, 3, 0
- Registered Unknown Party, 254, 21, 16, 0
- Independent, 138, 14, 11, 2
- Total, 699, 132, 81, 23
Party, Candidate with Criminal Case, Candidate for Serious Criminal Case
- AAP, 44, 29
- Congress, 29, 13
- BJP, 20, 9