ADR: 34% newly- elected MPS have criminal backgrounds
In a joint study, the Association for Democratic Reforms ( ADR) and the National Election Watch ( NEW) have found that out of the 541 elected MPs in the 16th Lok Sabha elections, 186 ( 34 per cent) had declared criminal cases against themselves in their election affidavits.
The report has also found that 112 ( 21 per cent) of these MPs have declared serious criminal cases related to murder, attempt to murder, spreading communal dishar- mony, kidnapping, crimes against women etc. In 2009 election, this figure was 77 ( 15 per cent).
Among this year’s elected MPs, nine have declared cases related to murder. Out of these four have been fielded by the BJP, while the Congress, LJP, RJD and the Swabhimani Paksha have one each and one is an Independent. Apart from this, 17 winning MPs have declared cases of attempt to murder
As far as personal wealth is concerned, the average asset per MP in the 16th Lok Sabha is ` 14.61 crore, as compared to ` 5.35 crore in the previous one. The wealthiest MP is TDP’s Jaydev Galla from Guntur ( Andhra Pradesh) who has declared ` 683 crores.
Commenting on this, ADR member and senior economist Ajit Ranade said that various reports have found that criminality of a candidate enhances the chances of winnability and parties are not shying away from giving tickets to them. However, he added, “The Supreme Court’s 2013 decision to dispose the criminal cases within a year by fast- track court would definitely play a crucial role in the coming years and we hope to get a cleaner Parliament.”