Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections: Over 150 Major Party Candidates Face Serious Criminal Charges
A recent analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has uncovered a troubling trend in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. As many as 157 candidates fielded by major political parties have declared that they have serious criminal cases pending against them. These charges include grave offences such as murder, attempt to murder, crimes against women and children, and corruption.
According to the NGO, even if these candidates secure victory, they are at significant risk of losing their MLA posts. This is because the offences they are accused of carry maximum punishments of five years or more, which could lead to disqualification under electoral laws.
Party-Wise Breakdown of Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases
The ADR report provides a detailed breakdown of the candidates implicated. The AIADMK leads the list, having fielded 60 candidates with serious criminal cases pending against them. This number represents 35% of the party's total 170 candidates. Following closely, the TVK has 43 such candidates out of 231, while the DMK has 32 candidates in this category.
Other parties are not exempt from this issue. The BJP has fielded 9 candidates with serious criminal cases, the Congress has 5, the PMK has 6, the DMDK has 1, and the CPI has 1. This widespread presence of candidates facing serious charges raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
Increase in Criminal Cases Among Candidates
Joseph Victor Raj, coordinator for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry at the National Election Watch, highlighted the alarming increase in such cases. "An analysis of 3,992 affidavits filed by candidates in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections revealed that 404 candidates have declared serious criminal cases, including crimes against women, murder, and attempt to murder," he stated.
The number of candidates with serious criminal cases has surged from 207 in the 2021 elections to 404 in the current cycle. Additionally, the overall number of candidates with any criminal cases has risen from 466 (13%) in the last election to 722 (18%) this time.
In terms of total criminal cases, the AIADMK again tops the chart with 118 candidates, while the DMK has 70 out of 175 candidates. The TVK features prominently with 92 candidates, accounting for about 40% of its total. The BJP has fielded 16 candidates with criminal cases against them.
High-Profile Candidates and Broader Implications
Some notable figures are included in this list. For instance, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has declared nine pending cases against him, primarily related to his speech criticising Sanatana Dharma. This inclusion underscores that the issue spans across party lines and affects even senior leaders.
Joseph Victor Raj expressed deep concern over the findings. "The data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system. Our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers," he added, emphasising the need for systemic change.
Additional Findings on Candidate Wealth
The ADR report also shed light on the financial aspects of the candidates. There are 22 billionaires among those contesting the elections. Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of Arappor Iyakkam, noted, "The average assets' value of candidates has increased from 1.72 crore to 5.17 crore." This significant rise in wealth among candidates further highlights the evolving dynamics of election financing and candidate profiles.
It is important to note that the association was unable to analyse the affidavits of 31 candidates due to unclear scanned images, suggesting that the actual numbers might be even higher.
