INDIA. Mumbai: The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a forum recognised as a “National Election Watch,” has stated that 55 percent of winning candidates in the Karnataka Assembly have been involved in criminal offences, including murder and a crime against women.
In its report dated May 15, the ADR stated that 78 candidates have serious criminal cases registered against them. They include 40 (30%) out of 135 winning candidates from the Congress, followed by 23 (35%) out of 66 winning candidates from the BJP, 7 (37%) out of 19 winning candidates from the JD(S), and 1 (100%) Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha. The winning candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
The winning candidates with cases related to murder are: One winning candidate has declared a case related to murder (IPC Section 302). Winning candidates with cases related to “Attempt to Murder”: Three winning candidates have declared cases of “attempt to murder” (IPC Section 307). The winning candidates with cases related to crimes against women are: Seven winning candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. Out of seven winning candidates, one has declared a case related to rape (IPC Section 376).
The percentage of candidates with criminal backgrounds has shot up to 55 percent in this election, compared to 35 percent in the 2018 Assembly election, the ADR report read. Out of 122 winners, the offences of rape and attempted murder have been registered against 71 candidates.
KPCC President D. K. Shivakumar, who is in the race for the chief minister’s post, has assets worth Rs 1413 crore and carries 19 criminal cases, including corruption and the case of tendering false evidence. The CBI has already booked him, and the matter is pending in the Karnataka High Court, where it is expected to come up for hearing in July.
A former CM and now a front runner for the CM’s post-Siddaramaiah, he carries 13 criminal offences, including corruption, carrying dangerous weapons, and an offence influencing voters, registered against him.
Crorepatis
Party-wise crorepati winning candidates: 132 (99%) out of 135 from the Congress, 63 (96%) out of 66 from the BJP, 18 (95%) out of 19 from JD(S), 01 (100%) from Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha, 01 (100%) from Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha, and 02 (100%) independent winning candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs. 01 crores.
Share of wealth among winning candidates: less than 50 lakhs: 02 (1%), 50 lakhs to 2 crores: 10 ( 4%), 2 crores to 5 crores: 31 (14%) and, 5 crores and above: 180- (81%),
Average assets: The average amount of assets per winning candidate in the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 is Rs 64.39 crore. The average amount of assets per MLA in the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018 was Rs 34.59 crore.
Party wise average assets: The average assets per winning candidate for 134 Congress winning candidates is Rs 67.13 Crore, for 66 BJP winning candidates it is Rs 44.36 crore, for 19 JD(S) winning candidates-Rs 46.01 crore, for one Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha winner candidate- Rs 246.51 Crore, one Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha winner candidate-Rs 40.15 crore, and for two Independent winning candidates have average assets worth Rs 637.16 Crore.
Also Read: Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: Congress Leads in Opinion Polls
