CHENNAI: As many as 56 (24%) of the newly elected MLAs out of 233 have serious criminal cases -- including murder cases, attempted murder cases, crimes against women -- pending against them, according to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Party-wise Breakdown of Candidates with Serious Cases
Among the winning candidates, 19 out of 107 from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) have serious criminal cases against them. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) each have 14 candidates with such cases. Additionally, two candidates each from the Congress and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), and one each from the Communist Party of India (CPI), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK), and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) have declared serious criminal cases in their affidavits.
Joseph Victor Raj, coordinator of Tamil Nadu Election Watch, stated: "While one candidate has declared cases related to murder, six winning candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder and two winning candidates have declared cases related to crime against women."
Comparison with 2021 Elections
The total number of candidates with serious criminal cases remained more or less the same compared to the 2021 election. In the previous election, 57 candidates with serious criminal cases against them were elected.
Classification of Serious Criminal Cases
Offences for which the maximum punishment is five years or more, offences related to assault, murder, kidnap, rape, offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and crimes against women and children were classified as serious criminal cases.
Overall Criminal Cases
At least 126 winning candidates out of 233 (54%) have criminal cases against them. While 41 candidates from TVK have declared criminal cases, 37 candidates from DMK, 33 from AIADMK, and three from Congress have criminal cases pending. Two from PMK, and one each from CPI, IUML, VCK, AMMK, and DMDK have declared criminal cases in their affidavits.
