Out of the 1,618 candidates contesting the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 161 face ‘serious’ criminal charges.

More than a third of all seats going to polls in the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections have three or more candidates with criminal cases against them, according to a report.

During April-June, India will hold the world’s largest electoral exercise with around 1 billion eligible voters expected to exercise their franchise in seven phases. The first phase of voting will take place on April 19 and the final phase will conclude on June 1. The counting of votes will take place on June 4 and results are expected the same day.

Of the 102 seats going to polls on April 19, three or more candidates face criminal cases in 42 constituencies, as per a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Such seats are called ‘red alert’ constituencies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term and has emerged as the front-runner in pre-election surveys. He faces a challenge from the INDIA bloc, a coalition of Opposition parties comprising Congress, the principal Opposition party, and a number of regional parties.

16% candidates face criminal cases, 10% accused of ‘serious’ crimes: Report

Of the 1,618 candidates contesting the first phase of 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 252 candidates —16%— face criminal charges and 161 —10%— are accused of ‘serious’ crimes, according to the ADR’s report.

The report is based on the self-sworn affidavits filed by the candidates as part of their nomination.

Of these candidates, seven have murder cases against them while 19 are accused of attempt to murder, as per the report.

The report further says that 18 candidates are accused to crimes against women and one is accused of rape.

Moreover, 35 candidates are accused of cases related to hate speech.

RJD, DMK have highest share of tainted candidates

Among the major parties, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have the highest share of candidates with criminal cases.

Of the candidates with criminal cases contesting the first phase of 2024 parliamentary elections, the party-wise details are as follows:

• RJD : 4 out of 4 (100%)

• DMK :13 out of 22 (59%)

• SP : 3 out of 7 (43%)

• TMC : 2 out of 5 (40%)

• BJP : 28 out of 77 (36%)

• INC : 19 out of 56 (34%)

• AIADMK: 13 out of 36 (36 per cent)

• BSP : 11 out of 86 (13%)