Haryana Polls: 133 out of 1028 candidates have criminal cases, says ADR Report
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, October 1, 2024: Out of the 1028 candidates analysed in Haryana Assembly elections 2024, 133(13%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. This was revealed in a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Haryana Election Watch.
The report further states that in the 2019 Haryana Assembly Elections, out of 1138 candidates analyzed, 117(10%) had declared criminal cases against themselves.
Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases:
95(9%) have declared serious criminal cases. In the 2019 Haryana Assembly Elections, 70 (6%) candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Party-wise Candidates with Criminal Cases
Among the major parties,17(19%) out of 89 candidates analyzed from INC, 6(7%) out of 89 candidates analyzed from BJP, 23(26%) out of 88 candidates analyzed from AAP, 7 (11%) out of 66 candidates analyzed from Jannayak Janta Party, 9 (18%) out of 51 candidates analyzed from INLD and 3 (9%) out of 35 candidates analyzed from BSP have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Party-wise Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases
Among the major parties,11(12%) out of 89 candidates analyzed from INC, 3(3%) out of 89 candidates analyzed from BJP, 14(16%) out of 88 candidates analyzed from AAP, 6 (9%) out of 66 candidates analysed from Jannayak Janta Party, 6 (12%) out of 51 candidates analysed from INLD and 3 (9%) out of 35 candidates analysed from BSP have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Candidates with declared cases related to crime against women
11 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of 11 candidates 2 candidates have declared charge related to rape (IPC Section-376) and Whoever commits rape repeatedly on the same woman, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years, but may extend to imprisonment (IPC Section-376(2)(n)).
Candidates with declared cases related to murder
6 candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves.
Candidates with declared cases related to attempt to murder
8 candidates have declared cases related to Attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against themselves.
Red Alert Constituencies
20(22%) out of 90 constituencies are red alert constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. 15 (17%) constituencies in the Haryana assembly elections 2019 had 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases.
The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in the Haryana Assembly Elections 2024 as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 13% candidates with criminal cases.
All major parties contesting in Haryana Assembly Elections 2024 have given tickets from 7 % to 26 % candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves.
The Supreme Court in its directions dated 13th February, 2020 had specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates.
As per these mandatory guidelines, the reasons for such selection has to be with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned.
During the recent 4 State Assembly elections held in 2024, it was observed that political parties gave unfounded and baseless reasons like popularity of the person, does good social work, cases are politically motivated etc.
These are not sound and cogent reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds. This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers.
Party-wise Crorepati Candidates
The role of money power in our elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates.
Among the major parties 85(96%) out of 89 candidates analyzed from BJP, 84(94%) out of 89 candidates analyzed from INC, 46(70%) out of 66 candidates analyzed from Jannayak Janta Party, 34(67%) out of 51 candidates analysed from INLD, 52(59%) out of 88 candidates analysed from AAP and 18(51%) out of 35 candidates analyzed from BSP have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.