Key Points
- 29% of candidates in the Maharashtra 2024 elections have criminal cases against them.
- 19% face serious charges, including murder and rape.
- Major parties like BJP, Congress, and Shiv Sena have fielded candidates with criminal records.
- The Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling to justify choosing candidates with criminal backgrounds has been ignored.
- Political parties give weak or unfounded reasons for choosing these candidates.
Looma News
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Maharashtra Election Watch reviewed 2201 of the 4136 candidates running in the Maharashtra 2024 Assembly elections. The study found that 629 candidates, or 29%, have criminal cases against them. Among these, 412 candidates (19%) face serious charges. This includes 39 candidates with charges related to attempted murder and 50 with charges related to crimes against women. Two candidates are charged with rape, and six with murder.
Despite the Supreme Court’s 2020 order, political parties have continued to field candidates with criminal backgrounds. The court had directed parties to explain why they are choosing such candidates, based on their qualifications or achievements. However, the report shows that major parties like BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, and NCP have ignored these rules. Between 54% and 68% of their candidates have declared criminal cases, and the parties have given weak reasons, such as the candidates being popular or claiming that the charges are politically motivated.
The report criticizes the parties for not making changes to the system and warns that continuing to involve criminals in the lawmaking process could hurt the democracy.
