Results for: Crorepati Candidates

In the third phase of India’s Lok Sabha elections, a significant number of candidates have self-declared criminal cases against themselves. Of the 695 candidates analyzed, 159 (or 23%) have criminal records, with 122 facing serious criminal charges. Major national parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC), have over 40% of their candidates with criminal backgrounds. Moreover, a large majority of contesting candidates from major parties, including independent candidates, possess assets worth over 1 crore (crorepati status), with the median assets of BJP candidates being the highest among national parties. Despite these findings, over a fifth of the constituencies have no female candidates contesting the elections.

The ADR and NEE analyzed affidavits of 1,352 candidates in Phase 3 of the Lok Sabha elections and found that 244 (18%) have criminal cases against them, including 172 serious cases. Notably, 38 candidates face charges related to crimes against women, and 24 are implicated in attempted murder cases. Among the major parties, 30% of candidates from both state and national parties have criminal cases. Excluding AITMC, all major state parties have at least 30% of candidates facing criminal charges. The BJP and INC have 27% and 38% of candidates with criminal cases, respectively. Geographically, Bijapur, Fatehpur Sikri, Araria, Sangli, South Goa, Sangli, and Madha have the highest percentage of candidates with criminal cases. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Bihar, and West Bengal have the highest proportion of candidates with criminal cases among the states. Over 85% of candidates from major parties are crorepatis. Among the national parties, 94% of BJP and 88% of Congress candidates are crorepatis. All major state parties’ candidates, except SP, are crorepatis. The BJP has the highest median assets of ₹6.95 crores, while Congress candidates have ₹6.4 crores. However, Congress candidates with criminal cases have a higher median asset value (₹8.6 crores) than BJP candidates (₹4.4 crores). Notably, over 35% of constituencies in Phase 3 have no female candidates.

According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 17 out of 37 candidates contesting for the four Lok Sabha seats in Odisha are crorepatis, with BJP and BJD candidates among them. Malvika Devi of BJP, contesting from Kalahandi, is the wealthiest with assets worth ₹41.89 crore, while Pramila Pujari of SUCI(C) is the poorest with assets of only ₹20,625. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy of BJP has the highest liabilities of ₹3.82 crore. In terms of educational qualifications, 22 candidates are graduates, 14 have passed between class 5 and 12, and one is literate. Seven of the candidates are female, with 23 between the ages of 41 and 60. Seven candidates have declared pending criminal cases against them.