44% lawmakers with criminal cases will vote in Prez polls

New Delhi: In a shocking revelation, it has been found that nearly 44 per cent of MPs/MLAs who will be voting for the upcoming Presidential election have declared criminal cases against them.

In an analysis report released on Tuesday by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a total of 4,72,477 votes (44 per cent) out of 10,74,364 votes analysed are of MPs/MLAs who have declared criminal cases against themselves.

The ADR and National Election Watch have analysed 4,759 out 4,809 affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs. It includes 768 out of 776 affidavits of MPs and 3,991 out of 4,033 MLAs from all the states. They collectively form the Electoral College, who will be voting for the Presidential Election on July 18 to elect the new President of India. Nearly 236 (44 per cent) out of 542 Lok Sabha MPs, 71(31 per cent) out of 226 Rajya Sabha MPs and 1,723(43 per cent) out of 3,991 MLAs (all state assemblies/UTs) analysed, have declared criminal cases against themselves.

Of the 4,759 MPs/MLAs analysed, 1,316 (28 per cent) members have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in a self-sworn affidavit filed with the ECI before their most recent elections. About 157 (29 per cent) out of 542 Lok Sabha MPs, 37 (16 per cent) out of 226 Rajya Sabha MPs and 1122 (28 per cent out of 3991 MLAs (all state assemblies/UTs) analysed have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

The report further says that 3843 (81 per cent) out of 4759 MPs/ MLAs analysed are crorepatis as per their self-sworn affidavits submitted to the ECI at the time of nomination for contesting elections. About 477 (88 per cent) out of 542 Lok Sabha MPs, 197 (87 per cent) out of 226 Rajya Sabha MPs and 3161 (79 per cent) out of 3991 MLAs (all state assemblies/UTs) analysed are crorepatis. Meanwhile, of the total 4,759 MPs/MLAs who are entitled to vote in the upcoming Presidential Election, only 477 (10 per cent) are women.