Tamil Nadu polls: Over 400 candidates face serious criminal cases, 25% contesting are crorepatis

Over 400 candidates in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections have serious criminal cases against them, a study by the non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms showed on Sunday.

The candidates constitute 10% of all nominees whose election affidavits were analysed by the organisation. Eighteen candidates have declared cases relating to crimes against women and 13 for alleged murder.

In the previous state polls held in 2021, 6% of the candidates had declared that they faced serious criminal cases, according to the election watchdog.

The organisation classifies serious criminal offences as those that carry a maximum punishment of five years or more, are non-bailable, or are related to a loss to the exchequer. Serious offences also include assault, murder, kidnapping, rape and crimes against women, or those mentioned in the Representation of the People Act. They also include offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Association for Democratic Reforms analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 3,992 of the 4,023 persons contesting the polls across 234 Assembly constituencies.

Of these, 722, or 18%, candidates declared that they face criminal cases, an increase from 13% in the previous Assembly polls in 2021.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had the highest percentage of candidates (69%) with declared criminal cases among major parties. Of the total number...

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