Key Points:
- 38% of contesting candidates have declared pending criminal cases.
- 23% of candidates face serious charges, including murder and crimes against women.
- The proportion of “crorepati” candidates has jumped to 39%, up from 27% in 2021.
- Average candidate assets have surged to ₹2.78 crore.
- Despite Kerala’s high literacy rate, women make up only 11% of the candidate pool.
Amidst the picturesque landscapes of Kerala, the electoral fervor is currently at its peak. However, a closer look at the financial standing and criminal backgrounds of the political leaders contesting the assembly elections reveals a concerning reality for voters.
A recent detailed report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Kerala Election Watch has evaluated the affidavits submitted by the candidates. This report is not only startling but also compels the average citizen to ponder just how deeply money and muscle power have encroached upon the space meant for merit within the democratic process. The data reveals that, this time around, one in every three candidates entering the electoral fray carries a tainted record.
Supreme Court Directives and Criminal Records
When the affidavits of the 863 candidates contesting the Kerala Assembly elections were scrutinized, it was discovered that 324 of them, approximately 38%, have themselves admitted to having pending criminal cases against them. An even more alarming truth is that 201 candidates, or 23%, face extremely grave charges, such as murder, attempted murder, and crimes against women.
The Supreme Court had previously issued clear directives mandating that political parties must justify why they chose to field candidates with criminal backgrounds instead of selecting individuals with unblemished records. Responding to this, the Central Government filed an affidavit asserting that the authority to make such determinations lies with the Parliament. However, the arguments put forth by political parties today continue to revolve solely around the concept of “popularity.” With 85% of the Congress (INC) candidates and 66% of the CPI(M) candidates facing criminal charges, it is evident that political parties’ reliance on muscle power remains undiminished.
Record-Breaking Surge in Candidates’ Assets
According to the ADR report, there are 339 candidates contesting this election who belong to the multi-millionaire club. In the 2021 elections, this figure stood at a mere 27%, a number that has now risen to 39%. This signifies a substantial increase in the share of wealthy individuals over the past five years.
Interestingly, the average assets of contesting candidates have now reached ₹2.78 crore, up from ₹1.69 crore in the previous election. Candidates from the Kerala Congress, in particular, possess average assets amounting to as much as ₹39.64 crore. Furthermore, the assets of the 104 incumbent MLAs seeking re-election have recorded an average increase of 21%, a figure far exceeding the typical earnings of a common citizen.
Education and Women’s Representation
Kerala is widely regarded as the most literate state in the country, a fact that is, to some extent, reflected in the educational profiles of the political hopefuls. Approximately 46% of the candidates are graduates or hold higher educational qualifications, while 48% have completed their schooling between the 5th and 12th grades.
However, when it comes to women’s representation, the political landscape is considerably less progressive. Despite women constituting a significant proportion of the state’s total population, only 11% of the candidates contesting this election are women. In terms of age demographics, 58% of the candidates fall within the 41-to-60 age bracket, signaling a clear preference for seasoned faces in the political arena over emerging youth leaders.
