Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly Elections 2022, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has analyses the criminal background, financial situation, education, gender, and other details of candidates contesting in phase 1 of the Gujarat Assembly Elections 2022. ADR analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 788 candidates.
Criminal
Background
Out of 788 candidates analysed, 167 (21%) have declared criminal cases against themselves. 100 (13%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Among the major parties, 32 (36%) out of 88 candidates analysed from AAP, 31 (35%) out of 89 candidates analysed from INC, 14 (16%) out of 89 candidates analysed from BJP and 4 (29%) out of 14 candidates analysed from Bhartiya Tribal Party have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Among the major parties, 26 (30%) out of 88 candidates analysed from AAP, 18 (20%) out of 89 candidates analysed from INC, 11 (12%) out of 89 candidates analysed from BJP and 1 (7%) out of 14 candidates analysed from Bhartiya Tribal Party have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Nine candidates have declared cases related to crime against women.
Three candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section 302) against themselves.
Twelve candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against themselves.25 (28%) out of 89 constituencies are “red alert” constituencies. Red-alert constituencies are those where three or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
Moreover, the directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in Phase 1 of the Gujarat Assembly Elections, as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 21% candidates with criminal cases. All major parties contesting in Gujarat phase I elections have given tickets to 16 % to 36 % candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves.
In its directions dated 13 February, 2020, the Supreme Court specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and explain why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates. As per these mandatory guidelines, the reasons for such selection have to be with reference to the qualifications, achievements, and merit of the candidate concerned. During the recent six state assembly elections held in 2022, it was observed that political parties gave unfounded and baseless reasons like the popularity of the person, does good social work, cases are politically motivated etc.
FINANCIAL
BACKGROUND
Out of the 788 candidates, 211 (or 27% of them) are crorepatis.
The role of money power in our elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates. Among the major parties, 79 (89%) out of 89 candidates analysed from BJP, 65 (73%) out of 89 candidates analysed from INC, and 33 (38%) out of 88 candidates analysed from AAP have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.
The average amount of assets per Gujarat Assembly Elections 2022 Phase I candidate is Rs 2.88 crore. The average asset per candidate in the 2017 Gujarat Assembly Elections Phase 1 was Rs. 2.16 crore.
Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for the 89 BJP candidates examined are Rs. 13.40 crore; Rs. 8.38 crore for the 89 INC candidates examined; Rs. 1.99 crore for the 88 AAP candidates; and Rs. 23.39 lakhs for the 14 Bhartiya Tribal Party candidates.
One independent candidate, namely Bhupendra Bhavanbhai Patoliya from Rajkot West, has declared zero assets in the affidavit.
386 (49%) candidates have declared liabilities in their affidavits.