Criminalization of politics in India: Over 23% Bengal candidates face criminal cases, BJP tops at 70%
New Delhi: In a reflection of deepening concerns over the criminalization of politics within Indian democracy, over one in five candidates contesting the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) topping the list — as 70% of its analyzed candidates face criminal charges.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this was revealed in a report released by the New Delhi-based Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The analysis, based on self-sworn affidavits filed with the Election Commission of India, covered 1,475 candidates across 152 constituencies going to polls on April 23, 2026. Of these, 345 candidates (23%) have declared criminal cases, and 294 (20%) face serious criminal charges, including offences such as murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women.
“The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates,” the ADR report stated, adding that parties have “again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 23% candidates with criminal cases.”
Among major political parties, the BJP stands out with the highest proportion of candidates facing criminal charges. ADR has analyzed BJP’s 152 candidates out of which 106 (70%) are facing criminal cases. This is followed by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), where 63 out of 148 analyzed candidates (43%) have declared criminal cases. The CPI(M) stands at 44 percent (43 out of 98 candidates), while the Congress reports 26 percent (39 out of 151 candidates).
The report further notes that 96 out of 152 BJP candidates (63%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves, significantly higher than AITC (32%), CPI(M) (37%), and INC (22%).
The ADR concluded that political parties continue to show little intent to reform candidate selection, warning that democracy will keep suffering as individuals with criminal backgrounds enter legislatures.
