As many as 251 of the 543 winning candidates of the just-concluded general elections, that is, 46 percent of them, have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to an analysis carried out by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). This number has been consistently rising – from 162 in 2009, to 185 in 2014 and 233 in 2014.

The full reports  can be accessed here: https://adrindia.org/content/analysis-criminal-background-financial-education-gender-and-other-details-winning-31

Here are the highlights of the findings:

Criminal Background   

Winning candidates with Declared Criminal Cases
Out of the 543 winning candidates analysed in Lok Sabha 2024, 251 (46%) winning candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
For Lok Sabha elections in 2019, out of 539 MPs analysed 233(43%) MPs had declared criminal cases against themselves.
Out of 542 MPs analysed during Lok Sabha elections in 2014, 185(34%) MPs had declared criminal cases against themselves.
Out of 543 MPs analysed during Lok Sabha elections in 2009, 162(30%) MPs had declared criminal cases against themselves.

There is an increase of 55% in the number of MPs with declared criminal cases since 2009.

Winning candidates with Serious Criminal Cases:
170 (31%) winning candidates in Lok Sabha 2024 Elections have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to rape, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women etc.
Elections 2019: Out of 539 MPs analysed, 159(29%) MPs had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Elections 2014: Out of 542 MPs analysed, 112(21%) MPs had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Elections 2009: Out of 543 MPs analysed, 76 (14%) MPs had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

There is an increase of 124% in the number of MPs with declared serious criminal cases since 2009.

Winning candidates with declared convicted cases: 27 winning candidates have declared convicted cases against themselves.

Winning candidates with cases related to murder: 4 winning candidates have declared cases related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302).

Winning candidates with cases related to Attempt to Murder: 27 winning candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307).

Winning candidates with cases related to crimes against Women: 15 winning candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women.  Out of 15 winning candidates, 2 winning candidates have declared charges related to rape (IPC Section-376).

Winning candidates with cases related to Kidnapping: 4 winning candidates have declared cases related to kidnapping.

Winning candidates with cases related to Hate Speech: 43 winning candidates have declared cases related to hate speech.

Chances of winning for candidates with Declared Criminal Cases: The chances of winning for a candidate with declared criminal cases in the Lok Sabha 2024 is 15.3% whereas for a candidate with clean background, it is 4.4%.

Party wise Winning candidates with Criminal Cases:
94(39%) out of 240 Winning candidates from BJP, 49(49%) out of 99 Winning candidates from INC, 21 (57%) out of 37 Winning candidates from SP, 13(45%) out of 29 Winning candidates fielded by AITC, 13(59%) out of 22 Winning candidates fielded by DMK, 8(50%) out of 16 Winning candidates fielded by TDP and 5 (71%) out of 7 winning candidates from Shiv Sena have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Party wise Winning candidates with Serious Criminal Cases:
63(26%) out of 240 Winning candidates from BJP, 32(32%) out of 99 Winning candidates from INC, 17 (46%) out of 37 Winning candidates from SP, 7(24%) out of 29 Winning candidates fielded by AITC, 6(27%) out of 22 Winning candidates fielded by DMK, 5(31%) out of 16 Winning candidates fielded by TDP and 4 (57%) out of 7 winning candidates from Shiv Sena have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Financial Background

Crorepati Winning candidates:
Out of the 543 Winning candidates analysed, 504 (93%) are crorepatis. Out of 539 MPs analysed during Lok Sabha 2019 elections, 475 (88%) MPs were crorepatis. Out of 542 MPs analysed during Lok Sabha 2014 elections, 443 (82%) MPs were crorepatis and out of 543 MPs analysed during Lok Sabha 2009 elections, 315(58%) MPs were crorepatis.

Party wise Crorepati Winning candidates:
227(95%) out of 240 Winning candidates from BJP, 92 (93%) out of 99 Winning candidates from INC, 21 (95%) out of 22 Winning candidates from DMK, 27(93%) out of 29 Winning candidates fielded by AITC, 34(92%) out of 37 Winning candidates fielded by SP, 3(100%) out of 3 Winning candidates fielded by AAP, 12(100%) out of 12 Winning candidates fielded by JD(U) and 16(100%) Winning candidates from TDP have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore.

Other Background Details

Education details of Winning candidates: 105 (19%) winning candidates have declared their educational qualification to be between 5th pass and 12th pass, while 420 (77%) winning candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate and above. There are 17 winning candidates who are Diploma holders and 1 winner candidate has declared himself to be just literate.

Age details of Winning candidates:
58(11%) Winning candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years while 280 (52%) winning candidates have declared their age to be between 41 to 60 years.  There are 204 (38%) winning candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years and 1 winner candidate has declared his age as 82 years.

Gender details of Winning candidates:
There are 74 (14%) women winning candidates in the Lok Sabha election this year.  Out of 539 MPs analysed in the Lok Sabha elections 2019, 77 (14%) MPs were women. Out of 542 MPs analysed in the Lok Sabha elections 2014, 62 (11%) MPs were women. Out of 543 MPs analysed in the Lok Sabha elections 2009, 59 (11%) MPs were women.

Comparative Analysis of the assets of re-elected MPs

Number of re-elected MPs: Number of re-elected MPs analysed in the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 is 214.

Average Assets in 2019: The average assets of these 214 re-elected MPs fielded by various parties in 2019 was Rs 18.64 Crores.

Average Assets in 2024 Elections: The average asset of these 214 re-elected MPs in 2024 is Rs 26.14 Crores.

Average Asset growth in 5 years (2019-2024): The average asset growth for these 214 re-elected MPs, between the Lok Sabha Elections of 2019 and 2024 is Rs 7.50 Crores.

Percentage growth in 5 years (2019-2024): Average percentage growth in assets for these 214 re-elected MPs is 40%.