In the upcoming Maharashtra state elections, a concerning 29% of the 4,136 candidates have pending criminal cases against them. This data was revealed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), showing that among national and state-level parties, 45% and 60% of candidates respectively have criminal cases pending.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads the pack with 68% of its 149 candidates in Maharashtra having criminal cases against them. Other parties also have significant numbers of candidates with criminal cases, such as 66% for Shiv Sena (UBT), 59% for Congress, 51% for NCP-SP, 52% for Shiv Sena, and 54% for NCP.
Among the sample of 2,201 candidates analyzed, crimes against women stood out as a prominent category, with 50 candidates facing such charges. Additionally, six candidates are accused of murder, and 39 are charged with attempted murder. It is alarming to see such a high number of candidates with serious criminal allegations against them.
On the wealth front, 38% of candidates are crorepatis, with Parag Shah from Ghatkopar East topping the list with declared assets of ₹3,383 crore. Following closely behind are Prashant Thakur from Panvel with ₹475 crore in assets and Mangal Prabhat Lodha from Malabar Hill with ₹447 crore. Interestingly, all three candidates belong to the BJP.
It is noteworthy that 26 candidates have declared zero assets, with the majority of them being Independents. In terms of income, Parag Shah with ₹44 crore, Muzaffar Hussain with ₹23 crore, and Rohit Pawar with ₹23 crore are the top earners based on their Income Tax returns for the 2023-24 financial year.
The trend of candidates with criminal cases and high wealth is on the rise, as pointed out by Jagdeep Chhokar, founder member of ADR. He mentioned that the percentage of elected representatives with criminal cases and crorepatis has been increasing with every election. This is a concerning trend that needs to be addressed to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
As we approach the Maharashtra state elections, voters must be aware of the backgrounds of the candidates they are supporting. It is essential to elect representatives who have clean records and prioritize the welfare of the people. The responsibility lies with the voters to choose wisely and hold their elected officials accountable for their actions.
