45% of Cong, BJP, JD(S) candidates fielded in Karnataka Assembly elections face criminal cases

About 45 per cent of the Congress, BJP and JD(S) candidates contesting the Karnataka elections face criminal cases, with nearly 30 per cent of them accused of serious offences, including rape and murder, a new report by the ADR said.

The report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) released on Wednesday is based on the assessment of affidavits filed by candidates for the May 10 election.

A total of 458 candidates, including 119 independents, have declared criminal cases. At least 49 have declared cases related to crimes against women. Eight declared cases of murder (IPC 302) and 35 are facing attempts to murder (IPC 307) cases.

Compared with the 2018 elections, there is an increase in the number of crorepati candidates as well as those with criminal cases.

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For instance, there are now 592 candidates who have declared assets of more than Rs 5 crore as against 447 in 2018. Their share in the total number of candidates has jumped from 18 per cent to 23 per cent. Candidates in the Rs 2-5 crore net have also increased from 252 to 272.

In the 2018 elections, 306 candidates from six political parties and independents had declared criminal cases. The number has now gone up to 458, a 49.36 per cent increase in five years.

In the Congress, the number of such candidates more than doubled, from 59 to 122 in the last five years. The JD(S) witnessed a 70 per cent increase in such candidates from 41 to 70 during the same period.

While the BJP's "growth rate" was moderate at 15 per cent, 96 of its candidates with criminal cases are seeking election on May 10.

The ADR's report sought to highlight the serious criminal cases (assault, murder and rape; non-bailable offences with 5+ years of punishment, electoral offence among others). Among the major parties, 69 of the 221 from the Congress face such cases, 66 of the 224 from the BJP, 52 of the 208 from JD(S) and 30 of the 208 from AAP have declared serious criminal cases.

Founder of Karnataka Election Watch, ADR and IIMB professor Trilochan Shastri said the rising criminalisation coincides with the increase in the number of candidates who are crorepatis. "Why are political parties giving tickets to such persons? In 25 per cent of the constituencies in Karnataka, voters don't have a choice of a candidate who doesn't face serious cases. It is time people understand their candidate before voting," he said.

Katyayini Chamaraj, ADR State Coordinator, noted that while the cases themselves should help people to evaluate the candidates, it was time for changes in rules to bar at least those candidates in whose cases chargesheets have been filed.

"The idea of equality before the law must be upheld. There are 3.3 lakh undertrials in jail because they could not get bail whereas people with serious cases have become ministers. Petitions filed before the Supreme Court seeking reforms have been referred to the Parliament but it is clear that political parties have no interest in such measures," she said.

The ADR recommended permanent disqualification of candidates convicted of heinous crimes like murder, rape, dacoity and others. The candidates against whom charges have been framed for having committed serious criminal offences should also be disqualified. "Ensure trial of cases in which the politicians are accused to be concluded in a time-bound manner," it added.

With regard to political parties, the ADR said those that knowingly put up candidates with tainted background should be deregistered. The association also called for an end to the tax exemptions given to the political parties.