A recent report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed that 151 sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have declared cases related to crimes against women in their election affidavits.

A recent report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed that 151 sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have declared cases related to crimes against women in their election affidavits. West Bengal leads the list with the highest number of lawmakers facing such charges, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

The report, based on the analysis of 4,693 out of 4,809 affidavits submitted by sitting MPs and MLAs during elections held between 2019 and 2024, identified 16 MPs and 135 MLAs with declared cases involving crimes against women. Notably, West Bengal has 25 sitting lawmakers facing such charges, while Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have 21 and 17 respectively.

Among the 151 legislators, 16 have declared cases related to rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and can extend to life imprisonment. Of these, two are MPs and 14 are MLAs, with charges that include repeated offenses against the same victim, highlighting the severity of these cases.

In terms of political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the highest number of representatives with declared cases related to crimes against women, accounting for 54 MPs and MLAs. The Congress follows with 23, and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with 17. Both BJP and Congress have five sitting lawmakers each facing rape charges.

The ADR has made strong recommendations in light of these findings, urging political parties to avoid fielding candidates with criminal backgrounds, especially those accused of rape and other crimes against women. The report also calls for the fast-tracking of court cases against MPs and MLAs and emphasizes the need for professional and thorough investigations by the police.

Furthermore, the ADR has appealed to voters to be vigilant and refrain from electing candidates with such serious charges, stressing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.