Overview
- ADR’s Assam review, released Tuesday, found 14% of 722 candidates have declared criminal cases, 11% face serious charges, and 39% are crorepatis with total declared assets of about Rs 2,352 crore.
- In Assam, the BJP fields the highest share of wealthy nominees with 88% crorepatis, while the richest candidates include Congress’s Rahul Roy at over Rs 261 crore and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal at over Rs 226 crore.
- In a Monday report on Puducherry, ADR said 23% of candidates disclosed criminal cases and 41% are crorepatis, up from 17% and 23% in 2021 ahead of polling on April 9.
- An ADR analysis of sitting West Bengal MLAs found 47% have declared criminal cases, 37% face serious charges, and 52% are crorepatis, underscoring long-running concerns about money and muscle in the legislature.
- ADR and state election-watch groups say parties keep nominating candidates with cases and often cite weak reasons like popularity, despite a Supreme Court directive requiring clear explanations.