Lok Sabha elections fourth phase(Lok Sabha )

Delhi: ADR and ‘The National Election Watch’ have analyzed the self-affidavits of 1710 out of total 1717 candidates. Voting will be held on May 13 under the fourth phase of Lok Sabha  (Lok Sabha ) elections. According to the ADR report, a total of 360 candidates have given information about criminal cases registered against them. Looking at the financial background of the candidates, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Pemmasani of Telugu Desam Party is the richest candidate for the fourth phase, with a net worth of more than Rs 5,700 crore.

According to ADR data, 360 candidates have criminal cases registered against them, out of which 17 candidates have been convicted in various cases, 11 candidates have cases related to murder, 30 have charges of attempt to murder and 50 candidates have charges against women. Criminal cases related to crime are registered against him while five candidates face misdemeanor charges.

Analysis of ADR provides information about candidates with criminal background in major political parties.

Major political parties include three out of three candidates from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), two out of three candidates from Shiv Sena, 10 out of 17 candidates from Bharat Rashtra Samithi, 35 out of 61 candidates from Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. 40 out of 70 candidates of the party have given information about criminal cases registered against them in the affidavit.

Apart from this, nine out of 17 candidates of Telugu Desam Party, two out of four candidates of Biju Janata Dal, two out of four candidates of Rashtriya Janata Dal, two out of four candidates of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), out of 25 candidates of YSRCP. 12 candidates, three out of eight candidates of Trinamool Congress and seven out of 19 candidates of Samajwadi Party have given information about criminal cases registered against them.

Apart from criminal cases, the ADR report also highlights significant diversity among the financial backgrounds of the candidates. A total of 476 candidates out of 1710 for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections are crorepatis, whose assets are more than Rs 1 crore. Dr. Pemmasani is the richest among the millionaire candidates. Whereas there are 24 candidates who have declared that they do not have any property.

Based on these analyses, ADR has proposed several reforms aimed at curbing the criminalization of politics. These include permanent disqualification of candidates convicted of serious crimes, bringing political parties under the ambit of the Right to Information Act and imposing strict penalties for candidates giving false information in election affidavits.