Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Maharashtra Election Watch analyzed the affidavits of 2201 out of 4136 candidates contesting in Maharashtra 2024 and found that 629 (29 per cent) out of 2201 candidates analyzed had analyzed the affidavits of the candidates. A criminal case was opened against them.

About 412 people (19 percent) declared serious criminal cases. 39 candidates have filed a case of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307 and BNS Section-109) against them.

The report states that 50 candidates filed lawsuits regarding crimes against women. Out of 50 candidates, two candidates have filed rape-related charges (IPC Section-376), while six candidates have murder-related cases filed against them (IPC Section-302).

Of the 149 candidates analyzed by the BJP, nearly 57 (38%) have serious criminal cases. Of the 101 candidates analyzed from the convention, 35 (35%) face these situations.

Nearly 40 (42%) out of 95 candidates analyzed from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and 28 (33%) out of 84 candidates analyzed from NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar have similar cases.

Around 34 out of 81 analyzed candidates (42 per cent) from Shiv Sena and 22 out of 59 analyzed candidates (37 per cent) from NCP declared in their affidavits that they have serious criminal cases against them.

SC direction

The report states that the Supreme Court’s directions have no impact on political parties in selecting candidates in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections as the parties are re-following their old practice of giving tickets to around 29 per cent candidates with criminal cases.

All major parties contesting in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections have imposed penalties on 54 to 68 percent candidates who filed criminal cases against them. “

In its instruction dated February 13, 2020, the Supreme Court instructed political parties to state the reasons for this election and why other people without a criminal history cannot be elected as candidates. According to these mandatory guidelines, the reasons for such selection should be based on the qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned.”

Finally, the report added in the two State Assembly elections held in 2024 stated that political parties are affected by the person’s popularity, good social work, whether the cases are politically motivated, etc. “He was observed to put forward baseless and unfounded reasons such as.”

These are not solid, compelling reasons to field candidates with flawed backgrounds. “These data clearly show that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and that our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become legislators,” he said.