Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other Details of Candidates in Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026
Summary and Highlights
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Tamil Nadu Election Watch have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 3992 out of 4023 candidates, who are contesting in the Tamil Nadu 2026 Assembly Elections. Out of 4023 contesting candidates, 185 are from National parties, 640 are from State parties, 990 are from registered unrecognized parties and 2208 candidates are contesting Independently.
Criminal Background
Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of the 3992 candidates analysed in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026, 722 (18%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. In 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, out of 3559 candidates analysed, 466 (13%) had declared criminal cases against themselves.
Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 404 (10%) have declared serious criminal cases. In 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, 207 (6%) candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Party wise Candidates with Criminal Cases: Among the major parties,118 (69%) out of 170 candidates analysed from AIADMK, 92 (40%) out of 231 candidates analysed from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, 70 (40%) out of 175 candidates analysed from DMK, 16 (48%) out of 33 candidates analysed from BJP, 14 (50%) out of 28 candidates analysed from INC, 9 (50%) out of 18 candidates analysed from Pattali Makkal Katchi, 5 (50%) out of 10 candidates analysed from Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, 3 (60%) out of 5 candidates analysed from CPI and 4 (80%) out of 5 candidates analysed from CPI(M) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Party wise Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: Among the major parties,60 (35%) out of 170 candidates analysed from AIADMK, 43 (19%) out of 231 candidates analysed from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, 32 (18%) out of 175 candidates analysed from DMK, 9 (27%) out of 33 candidates analysed from BJP, 5 (18%) out of 28 candidates analysed from INC, 6 (33%) out of 18 candidates analysed from Pattali Makkal Katchi, 1 (10%) out of 10 candidates analysed from Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam and 1 (20%) out of 5 candidates analysed from CPI have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Candidates with cases related to Crimes against Women: 18 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. .
Candidates with declared cases related to murder: 13 candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves.
Candidates with declared cases related to attempt to murder: 44 candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) and (BNS Section-109) against themselves.
The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 18% candidates with criminal cases. All major parties contesting in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 Elections 2026 have given tickets from 40% to 80% candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. The Supreme Court in its directions dated 13th February, 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. As per these mandatory guidelines, the reasons for such selection has to be with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned. During the recent 2 State Assembly elections held in 2025, it was observed that political parties gave unfounded and baseless reasons like popularity of the person, does good social work, cases are politically motivated etc. These are not sound and cogent reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds. This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers.
Financial Background
Billionaire Candidates: Out of the 3992 candidates analysed, 22 (0.55%) are Billionaires.
Party wise Billionaire Candidates: The role of money power in our elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates. Among the major parties 2 (7%) out of 28 candidates analysed from INC, 7 (4%) out of 175 candidates analysed from DMK, 3 (2%) out of 170 candidates analysed from AIADMK, 1 (6%) out of 18 candidates analysed from Pattali Makkal Katchi, 1 (9%) out of 11 candidates analysed from Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam and 8 (3%) out of 231 candidates analysed from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam have declared assets valued more than Rs 100 crore.
Crorepati Candidates: Out of the 3992 candidates analysed, 981 (25%) are crorepatis. In 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, out of 3559 candidates, 652 (18%) were crorepatis.
Party wise Crorepati Candidates: The role of money power in our elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates. Among the major parties 27 (96%) out of 28 candidates analysed from INC, 170 (97%) out of 175 candidates analysed from DMK, 160 (94%) out of 170 candidates analysed from AIADMK, 31 (94%) out of 33 candidates analysed from BJP, 16 (89%) out of 18 candidates analysed from Pattali Makkal Katchi, 10 (100%) out of 10 candidates analysed from DMDK, 156 (68%) out of 231 candidates analysed from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and 3 (60%) out of 5 candidates analysed from CPI have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.
Total assets of candidates: The total assets of 3992 analysed candidates are Rs. 20,678 Crores.
Average assets: The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 is Rs 5.17 Crores. In 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, average assets per candidate for 3559 Candidates was Rs. 1.72 Crores.
Party wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 28 INC candidates analysed is Rs. 27.37 Crores, 175 DMK candidates analysed is Rs 21.37 Crores, 170 AIADMK candidates have average assets of Rs 53.02 Crores, 33 BJP candidates have average assets of Rs 14.82 Crores, 18 Pattali Makkal Katchi candidates have average assets of Rs 15.01 Crores, 10 DMDK candidates have average assets of Rs 17.15 Crores, 231 Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam candidates have average assets of Rs 16.04 Crores, 5 CPI candidates have average assets of Rs 2.65 Crore and 5 CPI(M) candidates have average assets worth Rs 53.23 Lacs.
Other Background Details
Education details of candidates: 1711 (43%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard while 1822(46%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. 301 candidates are Diploma holders. 95 candidates are Illiterate and 56 candidates are just literate. 7 candidates have not given their educational qualification.
Age details of candidates: 1424 (36%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years while 2034 (51%) candidates have declared their age to be between 41 to 60 years. There are 526 (13%) candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years. There are 8 candidates who have declared their age to be above 80 years.
Gender details of candidates: 442 (11%) female candidates are contesting in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026. In 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, 378 (11%) out of 3559 candidates analysed were women.