Criminal cases pending against 23% legislators

JAIPUR: While all political parties vouch for clean politics, there are many MLAs with criminal background who were elected to the assembly in the recent elections in the state. About 46 (23%) of the elected MLAs out of 199 assembly seats have declared criminal cases against themselves. Out of this, about 28 (14%) MLAs have declared serious criminal cases registered against them.

The figures are based on the analysis done by Rajasthan Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) of self-attested affidavits of 199 newly elected MLAs. The serious criminal cases include charges of rape, murder, kidnapping and other offences under Indian Penal Code.
According to the analysis, in 2013, out of 199 MLAs, 36 (18%) MLAs had declared cases against them. Out of these 36, 19 (10%) MLAs had declared serious criminal cases. Hence, there has been a rise of 5% criminal cases and 4% serious criminal offences registered against MLAs in the assembly this year as compared to 2013.
While looking at the party structure, 25 (25%) out of 99 MLAs from INC, 12 (16%) out of 73 MLAs from BJP and 2 (33%) out of 6 MLAs from BSP have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. Sixteen (16%) out of 99 MLAs from INC, 7 (10%) out of 73 MLAs from BJP and 2 (33%) out of 6 MLAs from BSP have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. One MLA, Parsadi Lal of INC who contested from Lalsot constituency of Dausa district, declared one charge related to murder (IPC Section 302). About four MLAs, all from INC, have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section 307).