ADR report reveals serious charges against candidates as voters prepare for November 20 elections
Team Clarion
MUMBAI — As Maharashtra gears up for elections on November 20, a recent report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Maharashtra Election Watchdog has revealed startling data about the candidates vying for the state’s 288 assembly seats. The report, compiled from police records and candidates’ own disclosures in their nomination forms, shows that around 60% of candidates have criminal records, with many facing charges as severe as murder, attempted murder, and crimes against women.
The ADR report indicates that of the candidates with criminal backgrounds, 106 are linked to serious offences, including charges of murder and assault. Additionally, nine percent of the candidates are facing cases related to grave crimes such as sexual offences. Voters are being urged to make informed choices, as these candidates will shape policies and represent their constituencies for the next five years.
The report says 10 candidates face charges related to murder, and 12 are accused in cases of sexual assault. The report claims candidates from various major political parties, including the BJP, Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), and Shinde-led Shiv Sena, have the highest number of candidates with criminal records. Specifically, 38 candidates from the BJP and NCP (Ajit Pawar) and 18 from Shinde’s Sena face criminal cases. Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena faction, and NCP’s Sharad Pawar faction also have candidates with criminal records, including 11, 7, and 3, respectively.
The report also sheds light on the financial status of candidates, revealing that wealth is a common factor among most contenders. Out of 277 candidates, 252 (93%) are millionaires, with substantial assets declared in their nomination papers. The BJP leads with 98 out of 103 candidates being millionaires, followed by 36 out of 40 from the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), and 35 from Shinde Sena. Similarly, Uddhav’s Sena, Congress, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP each have several millionaire candidates, with 15, 35, and 11 wealthy candidates respectively.
Prominent among the wealthiest candidates are BJP’s Prag Shah, who declared assets worth ₹500 crores, and Mangal Prabhat Lodha, with assets totalling ₹441 crores. Congress’s Chandrakant Jagtap also ranks among the wealthiest, providing significant financial declarations.
With both criminal backgrounds and financial assets of candidates under scrutiny, citizens are being encouraged to choose carefully and responsibly. The rivalry between Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the Mahayuti alliance has intensified scrutiny on candidate profiles, with both alliances fielding individuals with controversial records.
As the November 20 elections approach, voters are urged to be vigilant, ensuring that their representatives reflect both integrity and commitment to public welfare. Voters are urged to consider not only the promises made by candidates but also their past records, as they hold the power to shape the future of Maharashtra.
