Telangana: 73 of 119 newly elected MLAs have criminal records, claims ADR report

In the recently concluded Telangana Assemby elections, as many as 73 out of 119 newly elected MLAs have declared ‘criminal cases’ against themselves, claims the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a watchdog.

The ADR in a report released in Hyderabad on Thursday, mentioned, “Out of 119 MLAs analysed during Telangana Assembly elections as many as 73 MLAs have declared criminal cases against themselves, which is a five per cent increase as compared to 67 MLAs or 56 per cent in 2014 Assembly.”

The report also revealed that around 40 percent or 47 of the sitting MLAs of Telangana have declared to have serious criminal cases against them including cases related to attempt to murder, crime against women and so on.

Under this category, Telangana Assembly had 46 MLAs or 39 percent, in 2014.

In 1999, ADR was established by a group of professors from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, with the aim at improving governance and strengthening democracy by continuous work in the area of electoral and political reforms. Apparently, the organisation has been particular in highlighting corruption and criminalisation in the political process.

Two days after the results of Telangana Assembly elections were declared, ADR reports were published.

Also read: Telangana: K Chandrashekar Rao takes oath as Chief Minister for second time