Chennai (Tamil Nadu): "Democracy is a great institution and, therefore, it is liable to be greatly abused," Mahatma Gandhi had famously said.
True to his words, democracy in India is being misused and abused, political pundits say. According to them, the April 6 election to the Tamil Nadu legislature is a testament to the degrading democracy.
This time, the people of Tamil Nadu have voted several representatives with a criminal background and those from affluent families. Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a Delhi-based NGO, has come out with a report after analyzing the sworn affidavits of the winning candidates.
In the report titled "Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 - Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and Other Details of Winning Candidates", the NGO has analysed 224 of the total 234 elected MLAs as details pertaining to eight MLAs from the DMK and two from the Congress were not adequately available.
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MLAs with criminal background
Compared to the composition of MLAs in 2016, the average assets of Assembly members and the number of legislators with criminal cases have increased in 2021.
A total of 96 out of the 125 winning candidates (77%) from the DMK, 12 out of 16 winning candidates (75%) from the Congress, 15 out of 66 winning candidates (23%) from the AIADMK, four out of five winning candidates (80%) from the Pattali Makkal Katchi, three out of four winning candidates (75%) from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, two out of four winning candidates (50%) from the BJP and both winning candidates (100%) from the CPI have declared criminal cases against them in their affidavits.
While 34 per cent of the elected MLAs were facing criminal cases in 2016, the number has increased to 60 per cent in 2021. At least 134 MLAs elected in 2021 face criminal cases of whom 57 had criminal cases for offences of a serious nature.
A total of 57 (25%) winning candidates have declared serious criminal cases, including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women etc. Two of the winning candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against them and 13 winning candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307). Three winning candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women and of these, one MLA has declared a case related to rape.
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Party wise breakup
A total of 39 out of 125 winning candidates (31%) from the DMK, 6 out of 16 winning candidates (38%) from the INC, 5 out of 66 winning candidates (8%) from AIADMK, three out of five winning candidates (60%) from Pattali Makkal Katchi, one out of four winning candidates (25%) from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, two out of four winning candidates (50%) from the BJP and one out of the two winning candidates (50%) from the CPI have declared serious criminal cases against them.
Affluent MLAs
Of the 224 winning candidates analysed, 192 (86%) are crorepatis and it was 170 (76%) in 2016. The analysis showed that the average worth of assets of MLAs increased by nearly 50 per cent from Rs 8.21 crore in 2016 to Rs 12.27 crore in 2021.
The NGO has identified that 111 out of 125 MLAs (89%) from the DMK, 58 out of 66 MLAs (88%) from the AIADMK, 14 out of 16 legislators (88%) from the INC, three out of five MLAs (60%) from Pattali Makkal Katchi, three out of four from the BJP (75%), two out of four from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (50%) and one out of two (50%) MLAs from the CPI have assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.
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According to the analysis, AIADMK MLA from Ambasamudram constituency in Tirunelveli district E Subaya is to be the richest winning candidate with a total declared asset worth of Rs 246 crore. CPI’s Thiruthuraipoondi constituency MLA K Marimuthu is financially the poorest with assets worth Rs 3.3 lakh.
The NGO said 77 (34%) elected MLAs have the educational qualification of Class 12, while 142 (63%) completed graduation and above. Five of the winning candidates are diploma holders.
Age and gender
According to ADR, 74 winning candidates (33%) are between 25 and 50 years of age, while 149 of them (67%) are above 51 and below 80 years. The oldest MLA is 83.
