Only 12% phase-5 poll candidates women; 23% face criminal cases: ADR

Continuing the dismal representation of women in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, only about 12 per cent of the candidates to contest the fifth phase on May 20 are female, an analysis by poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed. Of the 695 candidates, only 82 are women, the ADR said.

In the first phase of the elections, 135 (8 per cent) female candidates contested, while 100 (8 per cent) women candidates fought in the second phase. Similarly, in the third phase of the elections, 123 (9 per cent) female candidates contested while in the fourth phase, as many as 170 (10 per cent) women are in the fray.

Criminal cases

The ADR analysis also showed that nearly 23 per cent of the candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, and about 18 per cent have serious criminal cases pending. Of the 695 candidates in the fifth phase, 122 face serious criminal charges, including murder, attempt to murder, crimes against women, and hate speech. Three candidates have declared convictions against them.

The ADR and National Election Watch analysed self-sworn affidavits filed by the candidates contesting in the fifth phase to get their criminal backgrounds, financial profiles, education, and gender. The report also gave a party-wise break-up of criminal cases.

Among the major parties, two (50 per cent) of four candidates from AIMIM, four (40 per cent) of 10 candidates from SP, seven (39 per cent) of 18 candidates from the Congress, two (33 per cent) of six candidates from Shiv Sena, 12 (30 per cent) of 40 candidates from BJP, two (29 per cent) of seven candidates from TMC, one (25 per cent) of four candidates from the RJD, and one (13 per cent) of eight candidates from Shiv Sena (UBT) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Crimes against women

According to the ADR report, 29 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Of these 29 candidates, one has declared charge related to rape (IPC Section 376), and 10 have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves.

In response to these findings, the ADR has put forward a series of recommendations to address the issue of criminalisation in politics, including permanent disqualification of candidates convicted of serious crimes, cancellation of tax exemptions for parties fielding tainted candidates, and parties being brought under the Right to Information Act.

Education, assets, liabilities

The educational qualifications of candidates raise concerns, too, with 42 per cent having qualifications between 5th and 12th standards, and only 50 per cent being graduates or above. Additionally, 26 candidates are diploma holders, 20 are just literate, and five are illiterate, the ADR said.

A notable 33 per cent of the candidates own assets exceeding Rs 1 crore. The average asset per candidate stood at Rs 3.56 crore. The top three candidates with the most assets have declared values ranging from Rs 110 crore to Rs 212 crore.

Moreover, 47 per cent of the candidates have declared liabilities, with some having high debt burdens amounting to tens of crores of rupees.

(With agency inputs)