As the Lok Sabha elections progress, an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) reveals that 1,644 out of 8,337 candidates have criminal cases registered against them. Among these, 1,188 candidates face serious charges, including allegations of murder, attempted murder, crimes against women, and hate speech.
Phase-Wise Breakdown of Candidates with Criminal Cases:
- Phase 1: Out of 1,618 candidates analyzed, 252 have criminal cases, with 161 facing serious charges.
- Phase 2: Among 1,192 candidates, 250 have criminal cases, including 167 with serious charges.
- Phase 3: Of the 1,352 candidates, 244 have criminal cases, with 172 facing serious charges.
- Phase 4: This phase has the highest number, with 360 out of 1,710 candidates facing criminal charges, and 274 having serious charges.
- Phase 5: Out of 695 candidates, 159 have criminal cases, and 122 face serious charges.
- Phase 6: Out of 866 candidates, 180 have criminal cases, with 141 facing serious charges.
- Phase 7: Out of 904 candidates, 199 have criminal cases, and 151 face serious charges.
The ADR's comprehensive analysis covered the affidavits of 8,337 candidates from a total of 8,360 contesting in the elections.
The first five phases of polling occurred on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, and May 20. The remaining two rounds of voting are scheduled for May 25 and June 1. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases, spanning from April 19 to June 1, with results to be announced on June 4.
