June 6th 2024.
In New Delhi, it has been reported that 251 out of the 543 newly elected members of the Lok Sabha have criminal cases registered against them. Shockingly, 27 of these members have even been convicted of their crimes. This analysis was conducted by the Association of Democratic Reforms, a poll rights body. It has been revealed that this is the highest number of candidates with criminal charges to be elected to the Lower House.
The data shows that there has been a significant increase in the number of MPs with criminal cases since 2009, with a 55% rise. In 2014, there were 233 MPs with criminal cases, while in 2009 there were 185 and in 2004 there were 125. This is a concerning trend that needs to be addressed.
Out of the 251 winning candidates this year, 170 of them have serious criminal cases against them. These cases include charges of rape, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women. This number has also increased from 159 MPs in 2019, 112 MPs in 2014, and 76 MPs in 2009. In fact, there has been a 124% rise in the number of MPs with serious criminal cases since 2009.
The analysis has also highlighted specific cases among the winning candidates. It has been revealed that 27 winning candidates have declared their convictions in criminal cases, with four of them being charged with murder and 27 with attempted murder. Shockingly, 15 winning candidates have cases related to crimes against women, including two facing charges of rape. There are also four winning candidates with cases related to kidnapping and 43 with cases related to hate speech.
The analysis further found that the chances of winning for a candidate with declared criminal cases in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections stood at 15.3%, compared to only 4.4% for candidates with a clean background. This highlights the alarming reality of the influence of criminal candidates in our political system.
Out of the 240 winning candidates of the BJP, which emerged as the largest party in the 18th Lok Sabha, 94 have declared criminal cases. Similarly, 49 out of the Congress' 99 winning candidates and 21 out of the Samajwadi Party's 37 winning candidates have criminal charges against them. Other parties with winning candidates facing criminal charges include the TMC, DMK, TDP, and Shiv Sena.
The analysis also revealed that 63 BJP candidates, 32 Congress candidates, and 17 SP candidates have serious criminal cases against them. This is a worrying reality that needs to be addressed by our political parties. It is essential for our democracy to have representatives with clean backgrounds and a strong moral compass. Only then can we truly progress as a nation.
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