30 MPs, 127 legislators violated electoral law: ADR

As many as 30 MPs and 127 legislators have declared cases regarding electoral offences in their election affidavits, an election watchdog said Monday.

According to a release from NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW), the information has been analysed from the self-sworn affidavits of candidates who have contested parliamentary and state assembly elections since 2008.

According to the NGO, 28 out of the 30 MPs sitting MPs are from the Lok Sabha and 2 are from the Rajya Sabha.

Party wise breakup shows that these lawmakers include 36 from Congress (7 MPs and 29 legislators), 34 from Bhartatiya Janata Party (9 MPs and 25 legislators), 16 from Janata Dal-United (2 MPs and 14 legislators), and 13 from the Samajwadi Party (3 MPs and 10 legislators).

The rest include seven from Rashtriya Janata Dal (2 MP and 5 legislators), five from AIADMK (1 MP and 4 legislators), and five from Bahujan Samaj Party (5 legislators).

Statewise data shows that eight MPs and 33 legislators from Bihar, eight MPs and 21 legislators from Uttar Pradesh, three MPs and 17 legislators from Karnataka, one MP and 11 legislators from Jharkhand, and two MPs and eight legislators from Andhra Pradesh.

According to ADR, the various electoral offences relate to violation of provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1950, such as threats or inducements of voters, tampering with EVM/ballot papers, holding public meetings during election period, denying someone the right to vote and breaching prohibitions at or near polling stations on the polling date.

Other violations include printing and distributing pamphlets, poster, handbills, placards, which do not bear the name and the address of the printer and publisher and illegal hiring of vehicles.

"ADR and NEW strongly recommend that candidates who contest elections should display the kind of responsible behaviour and conduct that upholds the integrity and value of fair and free elections," said the statement.

"Candidates should refrain from activities that are considered to be electoral offences and corrupt practices during elections," it said.