An analysis by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed that nearly 45% of the total 4,092 MLAs across India's 28 state assemblies and 3 Union Territory assemblies have declared criminal cases against themselves. This extensive report, which analyzed the affidavits of 4,092 out of 4,123 MLAs, shows that a significant portion of the political leaders in the country are facing serious criminal charges. The report highlights several key points, including the states and political parties with the highest number of criminally charged legislators and the types of crimes these politicians are accused of.

High Criminal Cases Across States

According to the ADR report, 1,861 MLAs have declared criminal cases against them, with 1,205 MLAs facing serious charges such as murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women. Among the states, Andhra Pradesh stands at the top of the list, with 79% of its 138 MLAs declaring criminal charges. Kerala and Telangana follow closely behind, with 69% of their respective MLAs declaring similar charges. Other states with a high proportion of criminally charged legislators include Bihar (66%), Maharashtra (65%), and Tamil Nadu (59%).

Interestingly, Andhra Pradesh also leads in the number of MLAs facing serious criminal charges, with 98 MLAs (56%) declaring such charges. Other states with a high percentage of legislators facing serious charges include Telangana (50%), Bihar (49%), Odisha (45%), Jharkhand (45%), and Maharashtra (41%).

Party-Wise Criminal Charges

The ADR report also provides a breakdown of criminal charges based on political parties. Among the BJP's 1,653 MLAs, 39% (638 MLAs) have declared criminal charges, with 26% (436 MLAs) facing serious charges. For the Congress, 52% (339 of 646 MLAs) have declared criminal cases, including 30% (194 MLAs) facing serious charges. The TDP, with 134 MLAs, shows the highest proportion of MLAs with criminal cases—a shocking 85% of its MLAs (115) have declared criminal charges, including 82 facing serious allegations.

In Tamil Nadu, the ruling DMK has 74% (98 out of 132) of its MLAs with criminal charges, including 42 facing serious charges. Similarly, in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has 95 out of 230 MLAs facing criminal charges, with 78 of them facing serious allegations.

AAP and Samajwadi Party Data

Among the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s 123 MLAs, 56% (69) have declared criminal cases, with 28% (35) facing serious charges. The Samajwadi Party follows with 62% of its 110 MLAs facing criminal charges, including 44% (48) facing serious crimes.

Crimes Against Women

The report also sheds light on crimes against women within the political sphere. A total of 127 MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women, including 13 MLAs charged with rape under Section 376 of the IPC and Section 376(2)(n), which deals with repeated sexual assault on the same victim. This troubling statistic highlights the need for reforms in the selection of political candidates and stricter scrutiny of individuals with criminal backgrounds.

Key Findings of the ADR Report

• 45% of MLAs across India have declared criminal charges against them.
• 1,205 MLAs are facing serious charges like murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women.
• Andhra Pradesh leads with 79% of MLAs declaring criminal charges.
• TDP has the highest percentage of criminally charged legislators, with 85% of its MLAs declaring criminal cases.
• Political parties like BJP, Congress, AAP, and Samajwadi Party show significant proportions of criminally charged representatives.

Conclusion

The findings of this ADR report underscore a deepening concern about the criminal backgrounds of elected representatives in India. With 45% of MLAs facing criminal charges, including serious allegations, there is a growing call for electoral reforms and greater transparency in the selection of political leaders. The presence of criminal elements in the political landscape raises questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the governance of the nation.

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