BuzzBytes NEW DELHI, Feb 24: Startling statistics emerge from a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), revealing that 36% of Rajya Sabha candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. The analysis, conducted in collaboration with the National Election Watch, scrutinized the self-sworn affidavits of 58 out of the 59 candidates vying for 56 seats in 15 states. The Rajya Sabha polls are slated for February 27.Among the concerning findings, 17% of candidates face serious criminal charges, including one individual with cases related to attempted murder. The breakdown by party affiliation indicates varying degrees of criminal cases, with BJP, Congress, TMC, SP, YSRCP, RJD, BJD, and BRS candidates all featuring in the list.The report also delved into the financial backgrounds of the candidates, revealing that approximately 21% are billionaires with assets exceeding ₹100 crore. The average assets of Rajya Sabha candidates stand at ₹127.81 crore.Among the top three wealthiest candidates are Congress nominee Abhishek Manu Singhvi from Himachal Pradesh with total assets worth ₹1,872 crore, Samajwadi Party nominee Jaya Amitabh Bachchan from Uttar Pradesh with assets worth ₹1,578 crore, and JD(S) nominee Kupendra Reddy from Karnataka with assets amounting to ₹871 crore.On the other end of the spectrum, candidates with comparatively lower assets include BJP’s Madhya Pradesh candidate Balyogi Umesh Nath with assets worth more than ₹47 lakh, BJP’s West Bengal candidate Samik Bhattacharya with assets worth ₹1 crore, and BJP’s Uttar Pradesh candidate Sangita with assets worth ₹1 crore.Educational qualifications varied among candidates, with 17% having qualifications ranging from 5th pass to 12th pass, while a significant 79% held graduate or higher degrees. The majority of candidates (76%) fell in the 51-70 age group, with a smaller proportion (16%) in the 31-50 age group. Only 19% of the candidates are women, as per the analysis.
ADR Report Reveals: 36% of Rajya Sabha Candidates Face Criminal Cases, Average Assets at ₹127.81 Crore
