Guwahati, April 1: As Assam heads into Assembly elections, a closer look at candidate data reveals a familiar but uncomfortable pattern, criminal cases continue to shadow electoral politics.
An analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms and Assam Election Watch shows that out of 722 candidates in the fray this year, 102 candidates, about 14 percent, have declared criminal cases against themselves.
Of these, 82 candidates, or 11 percent, face serious criminal charges, including offences that carry punishments of five years or more.
At first glance, the numbers show a marginal dip compared to the 2021 elections. But the broader picture hasn’t really changed. Because the issue is not just how many candidates have cases. It is who is fielding them.
Across party lines, candidates with criminal backgrounds continue to find space.
Among major parties, 37 percent of candidates from AIUDF and 28 percent from Congress have declared criminal cases, while BJP stands at 9 percent.
Even regional parties show similar trends, pointing to what analysts describe as a systemic issue rather than a party-specific one. Then there are the more serious charges.
The data shows:
8 candidates facing murder-related charges
9 candidates accused of attempt to murder
These are not minor legal disputes, but serious allegations that raise larger questions about candidate selection.
Despite repeated directions from the Supreme Court asking political parties to justify why candidates with criminal backgrounds are chosen, the report notes that parties continue to rely on familiar explanations such as popularity, social work, or claims of politically motivated cases. In effect, little has changed. The concern becomes sharper in certain constituencies.
At least 8 constituencies in Assam fall under the ‘red alert’ category, where three or more candidates contesting have declared criminal cases. In these seats, voters are often left choosing not between clean candidates, but between degrees of controversy. There is another layer to this story. Nearly 39 percent of candidates are crorepatis, highlighting the parallel influence of money power in elections.
And that perhaps is the real story. Because when nearly one in seven candidates faces criminal charges, it is no longer an exception. It begins to look like the system.
