Karnataka: Over 1,000 candidates with criminal background contested elections

An analysis of 8,893 candidates who have contested either the Parliamentary or State elections from Karnataka since 2004 shows that 1,135 have pending criminal cases against them.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the Karnataka Election Watch analysed the MPs and MLAs, while taking into account the pending criminal cases and financial declarations made by them.

The information is based on the affidavits submitted by these candidates prior to the 2008, 2013 and 2018 Ka Karnataka Assembly Elections and 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019 Karnataka Lok Sabha Elections and By-elections to Karnataka Assembly and Lok Sabha.

Criminal background:

A total of 1,135(13 per cent) out of these 8,893 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

705 (8 per cent) out of the 8,893 candidates analysed have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Out of 801 MPs/MLAs analyzed since 2004, 239 or 30 per cent have declared criminal cases against themselves and 150 or 19 per cent have serious criminal cases.

Financial background:

The average assets of all candidates (8,893) analysed since 2004 is Rs.5.91 crore.

The average assets of all MPs/MLAs (801) analysed since 2004 is Rs.22.33 crore.

8,893 candidates analysed:

A total of 8893 candidates who have contested either Parliamentary or State assembly elections since 2004 from Karnataka have been analysed by ADR.

A total of 801 MPs/MLAs who have held seats either in the Parliament or State assembly since 2004 from Karnataka have been analysed by ADR and the Karnataka Election Watch.