look news india
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: As the Lok Sabha election is reaching its final phase, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms, 8360 candidates are contesting the Lok Sabha elections, out of which 1643 have criminal and criminal cases pending against them. A study of the affidavits of candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections by ADR revealed that a total of 20 per cent candidates have declared that cases are pending against them. 14 per cent of the candidates have serious criminal cases against them including rape, murder, conspiracy to murder and crimes against women.
797 women contested in Lok Sabha 2024 elections
ADR studied the affidavits that are mandatory for filing of the form by national parties, local parties and independent candidates. ADR found that a total of 1333 candidates from national parties, 53 state-level local parties, 2580 unrecognised parties and 3915 independent candidates are contesting the Lok Sabha elections. A total of 797 women have contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the country, which is 10 per cent of the total candidates. In the last 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the number of women candidates was 640, that is, 157 more women candidates.
Out of a total of 1643 candidates, 98 have been found guilty.
The analysis also found that at least 197 candidates have cases related to crimes against women. Out of a total of 1643 candidates, 98 candidates have also been found guilty. This includes cases of rape (IPC Section 376) against 16 candidates. According to ADR, 191 out of 440 BJP candidates, 143 out of 327 Congress candidates, 63 out of 487 BSP candidates, 16 out of 33 CPI (M) candidates and 550 out of 3905 independent candidates have declared being minors and major crimes in their affidavits.
The average assets of crorepati candidates in 2024 elections is 6.23 crores
According to the report, 51 percent of the candidates have completed graduation or above. Talking about financial resources, out of a total of 8337 candidates, 2572 are crorepatis, of which BJP has the highest number of 403 crorepati candidates. 292 candidates of Congress have assets worth one crore or more. 163 candidates of BSP have declared their income of more than Rs 10 lakh. 27 out of 33 candidates of CPI (M) are crorepatis. The average assets of crorepati candidates in the 2024 elections is Rs 6.23 crore. Whereas in the last 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the average assets of the candidates was Rs 4.14 crore.
Politicians with criminal background cannot be barred from contesting elections
According to the current law, if a person is found guilty and sentenced to at least two years, he cannot contest elections for 6 years from the date of bail. Any MP or MLA sentenced to two years or more is immediately removed from the post of member. According to the law, citizens with criminal background cannot be barred from contesting elections. There is a provision of a 6-year ban on contesting elections if the crime is proved and convicted by the court. After 6 years, one can come into politics and contest elections again.