New Delhi: The chances of winning for a candidate with declared criminal cases in the Lok Sabha 2019 is 15.5 per cent whereas for a candidate with a clean background, it is 4.7 per cent.
This is due to the fact that the 17th Lok Sabha will have close to half of its new Members of Parliament (MPs) with declared criminal cases.
Out of the 539 winners analysed in Lok Sabha 2019, 233 MPs have declared criminal cases against themselves. This is an increase of 44 per cent in the number of MPs with declared criminal cases since 2009.
As per the self-sworn affidavits submitted by the candidates at the time of filing nominations, the new Lok Sabha has surpassed the previous two in electing MPs with criminal records.
Out of the 542 MPs analysed during Lok Sabha elections in 2014, 185 (34 per cent) winners had declared criminal cases against themselves while out of 543 winners analysed during Lok Sabha elections in 2009, 162 (30 per cent) had declared criminal cases against themselves.
This time its close to half. Out of the 539 winners analysed in Lok Sabha elections 2019, 233 (43 per cent) MPs have declared criminal cases against themselves.
The figure is far more alarming when it comes to serious criminal cases. Around 159 (29 per cent) winners this time have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to rape, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women, etc.
In 2014, out of 542 MPs analysed, 112 (21 per cent) had declared serious criminal cases against themselves. In 2009, out of 543 winners analysed, 76 (14 per cent) winners had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
There is an increase of 109 per cent in the number of MPs with declared serious criminal cases since 2009.
Among the new Lok Sabha MPs, there are 10 who have declared convicted cases against themselves. There are 11 MPs with declared cases related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302) and 30 winners with declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307).
There are 19 MPs who have declared cases related to crimes against women. Out of these, three have declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376) and six have declared cases related to kidnappings.
Around 29 winners have declared cases related to hate speech.
Among the political parties, NDA ally Janta Dal United (JDU) has the highest percentage of MPs with criminal records.
In their affidavits, 13 (81 per cent) out of 16 winners from JD(U), 29 (57 per cent) out of 51 winners from INC, 10 (43 per cent) out of 23 winners from DMK, 9 (41 per cent) out of 22 winners fielded by AITC and 116 (39 per cent) out of 301 winners from the BJP have declared criminal cases against themselves.
While, 87 (29 per cent) out of 301 winners from the BJP, 19 (37 per cent) out of 51 winners from INC, 6 (26 per cent) out of 23 winners from DMK, 4(18 per cent) out of 22 winners fielded by AITC and 8 (50 per cent) out of 16 winners from JD(U) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
The above report has been released by National Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) after analysing the self-sworn affidavits of 539 out of 542 winners in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Elections in Vellore constituency was cancelled. Three winners were not analysed due to the unavailability of their clear and complete affidavits on the Election Commission of India website at the time of making this report.
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