Despite the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, women’s representation remains alarmingly low. In the fifth phase of the elections, only 12% of the 695 candidates are women. This is a meager 82 female candidates, highlighting the severe underrepresentation of women in Indian politics.
The analysis conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) reveals that criminalization of politics is a significant concern. A staggering 18% of candidates in the fifth phase have serious criminal cases pending, including heinous offenses such as murder, attempt to murder, crimes against women, and hate speech. The ADR report also exposes the stark disparities in the financial profiles of candidates, with 33% being ‘crorepatis’ and a significant number burdened with high liabilities.
Furthermore, the educational qualifications of candidates raise concerns. A substantial 42% of candidates have qualifications between 5th and 12th standard, while only 50% have attained a graduate degree or above. This lack of educational attainment among political candidates underscores the need for stringent criteria and reforms to ensure that those elected to represent the people are well-equipped to do so.
In response to these alarming findings, the ADR has put forward a series of recommendations to tackle the issue of criminalization in politics. These include the permanent disqualification of candidates convicted of serious crimes, the cancellation of tax exemptions for parties fielding tainted candidates, and bringing political parties under the ambit of the Right to Information Act. By implementing these measures, India can take significant steps towards ensuring a more transparent, accountable, and representative political system.
