The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has reported that Tamil Nadu ranked first among five states where political parties did not disclose required details about candidates with criminal cases during recent Assembly elections.
According to the ADR analysis, Assembly polls held in April across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry saw 8,848 candidates contesting, including 3,539 fielded by 31 political parties. Of the total, 1,405 candidates had criminal cases against them.
The Supreme Court had directed in 2020 that political parties must publish, within 72 hours of selecting such candidates, the reasons for choosing them. The reasons were expected to be based on qualifications, achievements and capability, and not solely on “winnability”. Parties were also expected to explain why a candidate without a criminal background was not chosen.
ADR said parties disclosed reasons for 1,214 candidates, but failed to publish details for 191 candidates. Tamil Nadu accounted for the highest number of non-disclosures at 72, followed by West Bengal with 55. Kerala, Puducherry and Assam followed in that order.
The report also noted that in Tamil Nadu, parties including the BJP, AIADMK, DMK and others used nearly identical, word-for-word explanations in their declarations regarding candidates facing criminal cases.
