Nearly 69% of MLAs in Kerala have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to an analysis by poll rights body Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR). The state, along with Telangana, ranks second in the country in terms of the percentage of legislators facing criminal charges.
The ADR analysed the affidavits of 4,092 out of 4,123 MLAs across 28 states and three Union Territories. Affidavits of 24 MLAs were unreadable, and seven assembly seats remain vacant.
Overall, 1,861 MLAs (45%) across the country have declared criminal cases, with 1,205 (29%) facing serious charges such as murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women. Andhra Pradesh leads with 79% of its MLAs having declared criminal cases, followed by Kerala and Telangana (69% each), Bihar (66%), Maharashtra (65%), and Tamil Nadu (59%).
In terms of serious criminal charges, Andhra Pradesh again tops the list, with 98 (56%) of its MLAs accused of grave offenses. Telangana (50%), Bihar (49%), Odisha (45%), Jharkhand (45%), and Maharashtra (41%) also report high numbers of legislators facing serious criminal cases.
Party-wise breakdown
Among BJP’s 1,653 MLAs, 638 (39%) have declared criminal cases, including 436 (26%) facing serious charges. Congress has 646 MLAs, of whom 339 (52%) are accused of crimes, with 194 (30%) facing serious allegations.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has the highest proportion of MLAs with criminal cases—115 out of 134. Among them, 82 face serious charges. Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK has 98 MLAs (74%) with criminal cases, including 42 accused of serious offenses.
In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has 95 MLAs (41%) with criminal charges, including 78 facing serious allegations. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has 69 out of 123 MLAs (56%) accused of crimes, with 35 facing serious cases. The Samajwadi Party has 110 MLAs, of whom 68 (62%) face criminal cases, including 48 (44%) with serious charges.
According to the report, 54 MLAs face murder charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), while 226 are accused of attempted murder under IPC Section 307 and BNS Section 109.
Additionally, 127 MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women, including 13 charged with rape under IPC Section 376 and Section 376(2)(n), which pertains to repeated sexual assault on the same victim.