Days ahead of the crucial assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, a report has shockingly revealed that the Congress party has surpassed the ruling BJP by fielding more candidates with criminal cases amidst a prevailing trend observed by the political parties in prioritizing the candidacy of those who are facing serious criminal cases.

Madhya Pradesh is one among five states that is in the process of electing a new government ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP ruling state, with 230 assembly seats, is all set to go for the assembly polls on November 17 and the race is between the BJP and the Congress party. Both the parties are vying to win the elections and now, it has come to revelation that both the parties are pouring electoral prospects to the candidates with criminal cases, though Congress leads BJP in this regard. 

A report from a joint analysis of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Madhya Pradesh Election Watch (MPEW) has shown that as high as 53 per cent of Congress candidates in Madhya Pradesh have declared criminal cases against them in their poll affidavits. On the other hand, 28 per cent of BJP candidates have declared that they are facing criminal cases. 

Notably, 27 per cent of Congress candidates and 10 per cent of BJP candidates have declared serious criminal cases against them. Besides fielding candidates with criminal cases, both the parties have also given tickets to wealthy candidates. Around 87 per cent - 200 of 230 candidates analysed from BJP and 196 of 230 candidates from the Congress party have declared assets over Rs 1 crore. 

Furthermore, 39 of 66 candidates analysed from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and 54 of 181 candidates analysed from Bahujan Samaj Party have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore. Of the total 2,534 candidates, 727 (29 per cent) of candidates are crorepatis and the number stood at 24 per cent in the 2018 assembly polls. Of these candidates, 711 are from national parties, 103 are from state parties, 553 are from registered unrecognised parties, and 1,167 candidates are contesting independently. 

472 candidates have declared criminal cases against them and 291 candidates have declared that they are facing serious criminal cases. Of these 2,534 candidates, 24 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women and of these, one candidate has declared case related to rape. Ten candidates have declared cases related to murder and 17 candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder. 

By releasing a joint analysis, ADR and MPEW, in a statement, quoted a Supreme Court directive against the candidates with criminal cases. It said, "The Supreme Court in its directions on February 13, 2020, had specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates."