Of the 8,337 candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections 2024, as many as 1,643 (20 per cent) have criminal cases registered against them, according to an analysis of data shared by the poll rights body, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Among these candidates, 1,191 (14 per cent) face serious criminal charges, including allegations related to murder, attempted murder, crimes against women, and hate speech.
In phase 1, out of 1,618 candidates analysed, 252 have criminal cases and 161 have serious criminal cases. Meanwhile, in the second phase, 1,192 candidates were analysed. Of this number, 250 face criminal charges, and 167 face serious criminal cases.
In phase 3, of 1,352 candidates, 244 face criminal cases and 172 face serious criminal cases. Phase 4 had the highest number of candidates with criminal cases. Of the 1,710 candidates analysed, 360 face criminal charges, and 274 face serious criminal charges.
Phase 5 included 695 candidates, of whom 159 face criminal cases and 122 face serious criminal cases. In the penultimate phase, out of 866 candidates analysed, 180 face criminal cases, and 141 serious criminal cases.
According to the ADR report, in the phase 7 elections, voting for which is scheduled on June 1, 199 out of 904 candidates face criminal charges and 151 face serious criminal cases.
The affidavits of 8,337 candidates out of a total of 8,360 candidates were analysed by the ADR.
Top 5 candidates with highest criminal cases
The top five candidates with the maximum number of declared cases against them are – K Surendran, a BJP candidate from Wayanad, Kerala, who has a total of 243 criminal cases registered against him, of which 139 are serious criminal cases.
The candidate with the second highest number of criminal cases registered against him is Dr KS Radhakrishnan, a BJP candidate from Kerala’s Ernakulam, who has 211 criminal cases registered against him. The third candidate is BJP’s Arjun Singh, contesting from Barrackpur in West Bengal, who has 93 cases registered against him, according to the ADR report.
The candidates with the 4th and 5th highest number of criminal cases are Advocate Dean Kuriakose, an INC candidate from Kerala’s Idukki, with 88 cases against him and Athram Suguna, an INC candidate from Adilabad, Telangana, and has 49 criminal cases registered against him of which 41 are serious criminal cases.
Party-wise candidates with criminal cases
In terms of party-wise candidates who have declared criminal cases against them, 143 (44 per cent) out of 327 candidates from the Indian National Congress (INC) have declared cases against them. 191 (43 per cent) out of 440 candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have cases against them.
According to the ADR report, 63 (13 per cent) out of 487 candidates from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and 33 (63 per cent) out of 52 candidates fielded by CPI(M) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their election affidavit.
Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 141 candidates contesting in sixth phase face serious criminal charges
Comparison with 2014, 2019 Lok Sabha elections
In comparison to earlier Lok Sabha elections, out of the 7,928 candidates analysed during the Lok Sabha Elections in 2019, 1500 (19 per cent) candidates had declared criminal cases against themselves.
Out of 8,205 candidates analysed during the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, 1404 (17 per cent) candidates had declared criminal cases against themselves. Out of 7810 candidates analysed during the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, 1158 (15 per cent) candidates had declared criminal cases against themselves.