65% of newly elected Bengal MLAs face criminal cases; 61% are ‘crorepatis’: ADR

As galore arsenic 65% of recently elected legislators successful the West Bengal Assembly person declared transgression cases against themselves, marking a crisp emergence from the erstwhile election, according to a study by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The report, which analysed affidavits of each 292 winning candidates successful the 2026 Assembly polls, recovered that 190 MLAs (65%) person declared transgression cases, up from 142 (49%) successful 2021. Of these, 170 legislators (58%) look superior transgression charges, compared to 113 (39%) successful the erstwhile Assembly.

Among superior offences, 14 winning candidates person declared cases related to execution (IPC Section 302), portion 54 look charges of effort to murder. Cases related to crimes against women were declared by 63 winners, including 2 candidates who person disclosed rape charges.

A party-wise investigation showed that 152 of 206 winning candidates (74%) from the Bharatiya Janata Party person declared transgression cases, followed by 34 retired of 80 (43%) from the All India Trinamool Congress.

All winning candidates from smaller parties similar the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the All India Secular Front person declared transgression cases. In contrast, some winning candidates from the Indian National Congress person nary transgression cases.

The inclination is akin for superior transgression cases, with 68% of BJP winners and 31% of Trinamool Congress winners facing specified cases.

The ADR study besides highlighted the increasing wealthiness among elected representatives. Of the 292 winners, 178 (61%) are crorepatis, up from 54% successful 2021. The full declared assets of each winning candidates basal astatine ₹1,091 crore, with an mean plus of Rs 3.73 crore per MLA, importantly higher than ₹2.53 crore recorded successful the erstwhile Assembly.

Among large parties, the TMC MLAs person mean assets of ₹5.36 crore, followed by BJP legislators astatine ₹2.97 crore. The 2 Congress MLAs reported the highest mean assets wide astatine ₹17.92 crore.

On acquisition qualifications, 63% of the winning candidates are graduates oregon above, portion 32% person studied betwixt Class 5 and Class 12. A tiny fig of legislators reported minimal ceremonial education, including 1 campaigner who declared himself illiterate.

The property illustration shows that the bulk of MLAs (63%) autumn successful the 41-60 property group, portion lone 16% are betwixt 25 and 40 years. Around 20% of the legislators are aged betwixt 61 and 80, with 3 candidates supra 80 years.

Women stay under-represented, with lone 37 retired of 292 MLAs (13%) being female, a flimsy diminution from 14% successful 2021, the study noted.

The ADR study underscored persistent concerns astir the criminalisation of authorities and the rising attraction of wealthiness among elected representatives successful 1 of India’s cardinal states.