An analysis by NEW (National Election Watch, a NGO) tells: Number of MLAs with criminal background galore in outgoing assemblies in Maharashtra (45%), Haryana (31%) and Arunachal Pradesh (5%). According to the report, the MLAs of the three states going to polls based on the affidavits filed by them in last assembly elections. As suspected Maharashtra tops the list with 45% of MLAs having criminal records, one having several murder cases against him. Haryana also has more than 31% of MLAs having criminal records. In Arunachal Pradesh 5% of the outgoing MLAs have criminal records.
The number of women MLAs is very low in all the three outgoing assemblies, with no women MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh, only 4% women MLAs in Maharashtra and 12% women MLAs in Haryana. On the other hand, number of crorepati MLAs continues to be very high in the assemblies. All the details are given in this press release at the end.
Asking political parties to shun criminals in the forthcoming elections, Former Super Cop and a member of National Election Watch Committee, Mr. Julio Ribeiro said that, “Criminalization of politics is the bane of Indian Democracy. The presence of such a large number of MLAs in Maharashtra and other states with pending criminal records is a matter of shame for the political parties. The people are demanding honest and capable candidates and parties must listen to them".
State Coordinator of Arunachal Pradesh Election watch, Mr Bamang Tago said, “People want a corruption free government that can come only when we have honest and capable people in the assemblies. Not only the people want to know how our politicians are becoming rich wh