Representative image of a registered FIR.
Credit: iStock Photo
As the festival of democracy nears its end, the people of this country are gearing up for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections, scheduled to take place on June 1. The results of this seven-part mega-series are set to be announced on June 4.
The criminal background of politicians and poll candidates of this country has always remained a matter of interest for the general public. As responsible citizens, we ought to know the background and reputation of our representatives in the government.
Keeping this in mind, let's take a look at the major political parties that have fielded candidates with the most number of criminal cases registered against them.
In phase 7, out of 904 candidates vying for victory across 57 constituencies, 199 face criminal charges, while 151 have serious criminal cases registered against them, according to a report by the poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Here is a list of major political parties fielding candidates with the most criminal cases in phase 7:
Category wise candidates with declared criminal cases in phase 7.
Credit: Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)
Samajwadi Party (SP)
Total number of candidates: 9
Candidates with criminal cases: 7 (78%)
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 6 (67%)
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)
Total number of candidates: 9
Candidates with criminal cases: 7 (78%)
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 3 (33%)
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Total number of candidates: 8
Candidates with criminal cases: 5 (63%)
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 4 (50%)
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
Total number of candidates: 13
Candidates with criminal cases: 8 (62%)
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 4 (31%)
Major party wise candidates with declared criminal cases in phase 7.
Credit: Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Total number of candidates: 51
Candidates with criminal cases: 23 (45%)
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 18 (35%)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Total number of candidates: 13
Candidates with criminal cases: 5 (39%)
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 4 (31%)
Indian National Congress (INC)
Total number of candidates: 31
Candidates with criminal cases: 12 (39%)
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 7 (23%)
Biju Janata Dal (BJD)
Total number of candidates: 6
Candidates with criminal cases: 2 (33%)
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 2 (33%)
Communist Party of India (CPI)
Total number of candidates: 7
Candidates with criminal cases: 2 (29%)
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 1 (14%)
Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP)
Total number of candidates: 56
Candidates with criminal cases: 13 (23%)
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 10 (18%)
Taking all the seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls as a whole, as many as 1,644 candidates have criminal cases registered against them out of a total of 8,337, as per ADR's study. Among these candidates, 1,188 face serious criminal charges, including allegations related to murder, attempted murder, crimes against women, and hate speech.
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