Delhi polls: Number of MLAs with criminal cases reduces

An analysis of the elected candidates in the recently held Delhi polls has shown that a number of MLAs with criminal cases has gone down from previous elections, with only 24 (34 percent) contenders declaring the same.

A breakdown of the numbers, in a study conducted by the Delhi Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has shown that this number has reduced marginally, with 25 out of 70 MLAs declaring criminal cases against themselves in the 2013 elections. The corresponding number for 2008 was 29 out of 68 MLAs analysed.

Further, no MLAs who had declared heinous criminal cases against them, like murder or attempt to murder, were elected.

On the other hand, 91 candidates with criminal cases also lost the elections, including 60 candidates with serious criminal cases lodged against them.

Meanwhile, the number of women elected as MLAs has doubled, though the overall number remains shockingly low. Only six out of 70 MLA elected are women, a jump from the three MLAs in the 2013 elections.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party made a clean sweep of the Delhi assembly polls, winning 67 of the 70 seats on offer. Kejriwal was unanimously elected as the leader of the legislative party on Tuesday, following which, he met Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung at the latter's official residence and conveyed the news.

Jung will now send the report regarding the matter to President Pranab Mukherjee, allowing Kejriwal to stake claim towards government formation in the national capital.

The swearing-in ceremony for Kejriwal will be held on February 14 at the Ram Lila Maidan.