The highest number of hours contributed for assembly sittings were 116.83 hours in 2019 where assembly had 26 sittings. The lowest number of hours contributed for assembly sittings were 1.53 hours in 2020 where assembly had 4 sittings.

Figure: No. of sittings held in Madhya Pradesh Assembly during the period 2018-2023

Figure: Year Wise Total Time Contributed for Assembly Sessions (in Hours)

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Madhya Pradesh Election Watch (MPEW) have through joint RTI applications to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Secretariat analysed the information received pertaining to the performance of the MLAs and the Legislative Assembly. This report released by ADR and available here, is based on information available on the website of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly and from the RTI responses received

Analysis of Attendance of MLAs in Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly

• The details of MLAs with highest attendance are given below:

 Table: MLAs with highest attendance

*15th Session (11th July 2023 to 12th July 2023) 2 Days Attendance data not available on the website at the time of making this report.

Figure: Party Wise Average Attendance
* Including MLAs resigned / elected through Bye –Elections

The ADR has also analysed the number of 1uestions asked by MLAs in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly; here’s what the information reveals:

• 235MLAs have asked questions. These MLAs asked a total of 29484
• The details of top5 MLAs who have asked the highest number of questions are given below.

Despite being in the opposition, the Congress representatives can be observed not raising too many questions in the period. Highest number of Questions were related to Urban Development and Housing, Panchayat And Rural Development, Revenue, School Education and Public Works

Table: Top 5 MLAs who have asked maximum number of questions

Figure: Party Wise Average Number of Questions Asked
* Including MLAs resigned/elected through Bye –Elections

Figure: Top 15 – Category Wise Questions Asked

An analysis of the Bills tabled and Bills passed in Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly reveals that there were a total of 140 Bills tabled in the 15^th Madhya Pradesh Assembly. Out of these 140 Bills, 127(91%) Bills were passed.

Figure: Percentage of Bills Passed in 15th Madhya Pradesh Assembly

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The post Declining assembly sittings, close to zero participation by ruling BJP & opposition: MP ADR report appeared first on SabrangIndia.

This report, released by Association for Democratic Reforms has provided a detailed analysis of the cases of hate speeches against the sitting members of the Parliament (MPs) and the members of the legislative assemblies (MLAs). The report states that that the data accumulated and presented through this report is in good faith and the main intention is to ensure that the voters are informed. Notably, the source of the analysis are the affidavits filed by MPs/MLAs with their nomination papers.

In addition to this, the report also provided a state wise division of the hate speech cases filed. According to the data, cases of hate speech had been filled against seven Sitting MPs from Uttar Pradesh. This is followed by Tamil Nadu with cases against four MPs, three MPs each from Bihar, Karnataka and Telangana and two each from Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

For the state assemblies, of the 4005 current sitting MLAs in the legislative assemblies, cases of hate speeches have been filed against 74 of them. The report provides the party wise distribution of MLAs with declared hate speech cases. According to this data, 20 MLAs from the BJP have cases of hate speech against them, 13 are from the INC (Indian National Congress), 6 are from Aam Aadmi Party. Furthermore, 5 MLAs each from SP (Samajwadi Party) and YSRCP (Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party), 4 each from DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), 3 each from AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) and SHS (Shiv Sena, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), and 2 from AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) have cases of hate speech against them.

As per the state-wise distribution, the highest number of hate speech cases, nine in total, have been against MLAs from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh each, followed by six each from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana. Furthermore, five MLAs each from Assam and Tamil Nadu, 4 each from Delhi, Gujarat and West Bengal, three each from Jharkhand and Uttarakhand, two each from Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tripura and one MLA each from Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have pending hate speech cases against them.

In conclusion, a total of 16 MPs and MLAs from Uttar Pradesh have cases of hate speech against them. The BJP party also has the highest number of sitting MPs and MLAs, 42 in total, with hate speech cases against them.

Details of the hate speech cases filed against MPs

The report also provides details of the cases filed against the MPs, which includes the total number of cases filed, the sections of the Indian Penal Code employed against them, the status of the cases and whether there has been any conviction or not. The data also includes the details of the FIR filed, the jurisdictional police station, framing of charges and the details of the appeal filed.

According to the data provided by the report, the highest number of pending cases related to hate speech are against Bapu Rao Soyam, Adilabad, Telangana from the BJP. According to the report, a total of 52 cases have been filed against him wherein 55 serious sections have been invoked along with 232 other IPC sections. The brief details of the IPC sections used are as follows:

Serious IPC charges:

• 13 charges related to Mischief by destroying or moving, etc., a land- mark fixed by public authority Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred or (in case of agricultural produce) ten rupees (Section-435)
• 12 charges related to Punishment for dacoity (Section-395)
• 8 charges related to Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon (Section-398)
• 8 charges related to Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc. (Section-436)
• 3 charges related to Punishment for criminal intimidation (Section-506)
• 2 charges related to Lurking house trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment (Section-457)
• 2 charges related to Theft in dwelling house, etc. (Section-380)
• 2 charges related to Attempt to murder (Section-307)
• 1 charge related to Forgery for purpose of cheating (Section-468)
• 1 charge related to Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means (Section-324)
• 1 charge related to House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint (Section-452)
• 1 charge related to Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (Section-153A)
• 1 charge related to Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property (Section-420)

Other IPC charges:

• 45 charges related to Punishment of criminal conspiracy (Section-120B)
• 41 charges related to Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees (Section-427)
• 34 charges related to Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant (Section-188)
• 30 charges related to Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object (Section-149)
• 29 charges related to Punishment for Rioting (Section-147)
• 26 charges related to Rioting, armed with deadly weapon (Section-148)
• 8 charges related to Punishment for house-trespass (Section-448)
• 6 charges related to Punishment for criminal trespass (Section-447)
• 3 charges related to Joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon (Section-144)
• 3 charges related to Punishment for Being member of an unlawful assembly (Section-143)
• 2 charges related to Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty (Section-353)
• 2 charges related to Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention (Section-34)
• 1 charge related to Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record (Section-471)
• 1 charge related to Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for (Section-290)
• 1 charge related to Punishment for cheating by personation ( Section-419)

Notably, there has been no conviction against him till date.

It is crucial to highlight here that a total of 183 cases related to hate speech are pending against the aforementioned 22 BJP MPs. A total of 44 cases were reported to have been filed against the 2 MPs belonging to the INC.

The report also provides the details of the cases related to hate speech filed against Union Home Minister and BJP MP Amit Shah. According to the data provided, a total of 4 cases remain pending against Shah, which include 4 serious IPC sections and 7 other IPC sections. The brief details of the charges filed and section of the IPC invoked against him are as follows:

Serious IPC sections:

• 1 charge related to Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc. (Section-436)
• 1 charge related to Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (Section-153A)
• 1 charge related to Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration (Section- 153B)
• 1 charge related to Punishment for criminal intimidation (Section-506)

Other IPC sections:

• 2 charges related to Punishment for Defamation (Section-500)
• 1 charge related to Criminal intimidation (Section-503)
• 1 charge related to Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace (Section-504)
• 1 charge related to Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees (Section-427)
• 1 charge related to Defamation (Section-499)
• 1 charge related to Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant (Section-188)

Notably, there has been no conviction against him till date.

Hate speech cases filed against MLAs

The report also provides details of the cases filed against the MPs, which includes the total number of cases filed, the sections of the Indian Penal Code employed against them, the status of the cases and whether there has been any conviction or not. It also includes the details of the FIR filed, the jurisdictional police station, framing of charges and the details of the appeal filed.

According to the report, the highest number of pending cases related to hate speech have been filed against Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao, representing Siddipet, Gajwel, Telangana of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). As of the year 2018, a total of 64 cases related to hate speech had been filed against him out of which 37 serious IPC charges have been imposed with 283 other IPC sections. It is essential to highlight here that out of the 64 cases filed, cognizance was taken in 63 of them and charges have been filed in only one of them. There has been no conviction till date. The brief details of the charges filed and section of the IPC invoked against him are as follows:

Serious IPC charges:

• 13 charges related to Punishment for criminal intimidation (Section-506)
• 4 charges related to Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty (Section-332)
• 3 charges related to Attempt to murder (Section-307)
• 3 charges related to Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means (Section-324)
• 3 charges related to Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft (Section-382)
• 3 charges related to Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (IPC Section-153A)
• 2 charges related to Statements conducing to public mischief (Section-505)
• 2 charges related to Mischief by destroying or moving, etc., a land- mark fixed by public authority Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred or (in case of agricultural produce) ten rupees (Section-435)
• 2 charges related to Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment (Section-511)
• 1 charge related to Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security (Section-477)
• 1 charge related to Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration (Section- 153B)

Other IPC charges:

• 43 charges related to Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant (Section- 188)
• 42 charges related to Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object (Section-149)
• 39 charges related to Punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment (Section-109)
• 28 charges related to Punishment for Being member of an unlawful assembly (Section- 143)
• 22 charges related to Punishment for Rioting (Section-147)
• 18 charges related to Punishment for wrongful restraint (Section-341)
• 14 charges related to Punishment of criminal conspiracy (Section-120B)
• 11 charges related to Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his
• duty (Section-353)
• 10 charges related to Abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten
• persons (Section-117)
• 9 charges related to Rioting, armed with deadly weapon (Section-148)
• 9 charges related to Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees (Section-427)
• 9 charges related to Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions (Section- 186)
• 6 charges related to Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot-if rioting be committed- if not committed (Section-153)
• 4 charges related to Punishment for house-trespass (Section-448)
• 4 charges related to Punishment for criminal trespass (Section-447)
• 3 charges related to Joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon (Section-144)
• 3 charges related to Knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse (Section-151)
• 3 charges related to Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for (Section-290)
• 2 charges related to Abettor present when offence is committed (Section-114)
• 2 charges related to Attempt to commit suicide (Section-309)
• 1 charge related to Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done (Section-111)
• 1 charge related to Intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform (Section-202)

Not surprisingly, BJP MLA T. Raja Singh has the highest number of cases related to hate speech where charges have been framed. As per the report, a total of 43 cases have been filed against Singh wherein 51 serious IPC sections have been invoked and 92 other IPC sections have been used. Furthermore, out of the 43 cases, cognizance has been taken in 27 cases and charges have been framed in 16 cases. It is essential to note that there been no conviction in any of the cases till date. A brief of the serious charges invoked against Singh are as follows:

• 17 charges related to Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (Section-153A)
• 9 charges related to Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs (Section-295A)
• 7 charges related to Punishment for criminal intimidation (Section-506)
• 4 charges related to Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment (Section-454)
• 4 charges related to Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house,

etc. (Section-436)

• 3 charges related to Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class (Section-295)
• 3 charges related to Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty (Section-332)
• 1 charge related to Attempt to murder (Section-307)
• 1 charge related to Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration (Section-

153B)

• 1 charge related to Statements conducing to public mischief (Section-505)
• 1 charge related to Theft in dwelling house, etc. (Section-380)

The complete report can be read here:

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As many as 23 candidates contesting for the Surat Municipal Corporation Elections 2021 declared serious criminal charges against themselves, said an analysis report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Gujarat Election Watch on February 19, 2021.

The report analyses the criminal, financial and other background details of 452 out of 484 candidates. 200 (44 percent) of the candidates analysed were women. Other affidavits were not analysed due to unavailability of the same at the time at the time of the report.

As per the report, seven candidates (seven percent) out of 106 Congress (INC) candidates declared serious charges against themselves. Two (25 percent) out of eight RJCP candidates declared serious criminal charges against themselves.

Serious criminal charges refer to non-bailable offences requiring a maximum punishment of 5 years or more such as assault, murder, kidnap, sexual assault, electoral offence, offence related to loss to exchequer, crimes against women and offences under Representation of the People Act and Prevention of Corruption Act.

Meanwhile, six (five percent) out of 113 BJP candidates, five (five percent) out of 103 AAP candidates, two (eight percent) out of 26 NCP candidates and one (two percent) out of 60 independent candidates declared serious charges against themselves in their affidavits.

Similarly, 43 (10 percent) of the 452 candidates analysed in the report declared criminal cases against themselves. As many as 18 out of 106 INC candidates (17 percent) declared criminal cases in their affidavits. RJCP recorded the highest percentage of candidates – 25 percent – with criminal cases that amounted to two out of eight candidates in the party.

BJP declared seven out 113 candidates (six percent) with criminal records. Eight out of 103 AAP candidates (eight percent,) 2 out of 26 NCP candidates (eight percent,) one out of 26 BSP candidates (four percent,) and five out of 60 Independent candidates (eight percent) declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Regarding financial background, the report stated that 81 (18 percent) out of the 452 analysed candidates are crorepatis. A party-wise distinction showed that BJP had the highest number and percentage of such candidates with 50 (44 percent) out of 113 candidates declaring themselves as crorepatis. The top three candidates with highest assets, Dharmeshbhai Gordhanbhai Sarasiya, Amitaben Bharatbhai Patel and Nileshbhai Sureshabhai Patel, are also from BJP.

Accordingly, 13 (12 percent) out of 106 INC candidates, 12 (12 percent) out of 103 AAP candidates, 2 (8 percent) out of 26 NCP candidates and 4 (7 percent) out of 60 Independent candidates declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.

The average of assets per candidates is Rs.1.13 crore with the party-wise distinctions as Rs.3.08 crores for 113 BJP candidates, Rs.74.12 lakhs for 106 INC candidates, Rs.47.11 lakhs for 103 AAP candidates, Rs.55.09 lakhs for 26 NCP candidates and Rs.8.20 lakhs for 26 BSP candidates.

Further details of the report can be viewed below:

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The post 23 Surat election candidates declare serious criminal charges against themselves: ADR report appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) set its government for a straight fifth term last year in the Odisha State Assembly Elections, with the party’s candidates garnering 112 of the state’s 146 seats. The BJP secured 12 Lok Sabha seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 9 out of the 21 seats.

According to the Election Commission of India, the BJD spent Rs. 227.79 crores in the Assembly elections, 18 times more than it did in the 2014 polls when it spent Rs. 12.62 crore. Out of this Rs. 193.74 crores was for general propaganda, Rs. 34.05 crores were spent on candidates, The New Indian Express had reported.

Now, Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) India have published a statement with details of spending of the MLAs during the Odisha Assembly Elections, 2019, the limit for which for each MLA was Rs. 28 lakhs.  The organizations examined the 147 expenditure statements, which put for the details of expenses on public meetings and processions, campaigning through electronic and print media, expense on campaign workers, expense on vehicles used and expense on campaign materials.

The organizations state that according to Section 78 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every contesting ‘Winner’ has to lodge a true copy of his election expenses within 30 days from the date of declaration of result of election, with the District Election Officer in all States and Union Territories. However, it was found that many of these statements were not uploaded till significantly after the deadline which was June 22, 2019 in this case.

Summary and Highlights of Election Expenses of MLAs

It was noted based on the declaration of the 147 MLAs that the average amount of money spent by them in the elections was Rs. 18.72 lakhs, which was 67 percent of the expense limit. Out of the 147 MLAs, 15 (10 percent) had declared that their election expenses were less than 50 percent of the expense limit which was Rs. 28 lakhs.

This figure has dropped drastically since the 2014 Odisha state assembly elections where out of 142 MLAs, 102 (72%) had declared that they had used less than 50 percent of their expenses.

Party-wise average election expenses

The party wise average election expenses shows that the average spending for 113 MLAs from BJD is Rs18.95 lakhs (67.7% of the expense limit). This has increased from Rs.12.09 lakhs in 2014.

For 23 MLAs from BJP, the average election expenditure is Rs. 18.42 lakhs (65.8% of the expense limit), which is up from Rs. 13.77 lakhs in 2014.

The average election expenditure for 9 MLAs from INC is Rs. 17.18 lakhs (61.4% of the expense limit), which is up from Rs. 10.04 lakhs in 2014.

One MLA from CPI (M) has spent Rs. 26.83 lakhs (95.9% of the expense limit) and 1 Independent MLA has spent Rs5.29 lakhs (18.9% of the expense limit).

Out of the top 10 MLAs who declared the highest spending, six were from the BJD, three belonged to BJP and one was an MLA from CPI (M). Since 2014, BJD has lost one spot and BJP has gained one.

The top 3 MLAs with the highest spending were –

1.       Laxman Munda (CPI-M) from Sundargarh with a spending of 96 percent of the expense limit amounting to Rs. 26,83,891.

2.       Sri Bhaskhar Madhei (BJP) from Mayurbhanj with a spending of 95 percent of the expense limit amounting to Rs. 26,63,548.

3.       Simarani Nayak (BJD) from Dhenkanai with a spending of 93 percent of the expense limit amounting to Rs. 26,03,632.

In 2014, the top 3 MLAs with the highest spending all belonged to the BJD.

Expense on Public Meeting, Rally, and Processions with Star Campaigners: Out of the 147 MLAs analyzed, 100 (68%) MLAs have declared that they have spent amount on public meetings, processions etc. with star campaigners and 47 (32%) MLAs have declared that they have not spent any amount on public meetings, processions etc. with star campaigners.

Party-wise, this spending stood at an average of Rs. 4.94 lakhs (26.8%) for the BJP and Rs. 1.85 lakhs (9.8%) for the BJD. Since 2014, this figure has fallen 2% for the BJD and increased 22% for the BJP.

Expense on Public Meeting, Rally, and Processions without Star Campaigners: Out of the 147 MLAs analyzed, 144 (98%) MLAs have declared that they have spent amount on public meetings, processions etc. without star campaigners and 3 (2%) MLAs have declared that they have not spent any amount on public meetings, processions etc. without star campaigners.

Party-wise, this spending stood at an average of Rs. 13.67 lakhs (51%) for the CPI (M), Rs. 8.27 lakhs (43.7%) for BJD and Rs. 5.66 lakhs (30.8%) for the BJP. Since 2014, this spending has increased at least 13% for the BJD and by 4% for the BJP.

Expense on Campaigning through electronic/print media: 47(32%) MLAs have declared that they have spent an amount on campaigning through electronic/print media and 100 (68%) MLAs have declared that they have not spent any amount on campaigning through electronic/print media.

The highest amount for campaigning through electronic media was spent by INC – Rs. 47,598 (2.8%), followed by BJD – Rs. 17,449 (0.9%) and BJP – Rs. 8,999 (0.5%).

Expense on Campaign Workers: 141(96%) MLAs have declared that they have spent an amount on campaign workers and 6 (4%) MLAs have declared that they have not spent any amount on campaign workers.

INC once again stood first in the spending on campaign workers with Rs. 4.72 lakhs (27.5%), followed by BJD which spent Rs. 2.91 lakhs (15.4%), BJP which spent Rs. 2.81 lakhs (15.3%) and CPI (M) which spent Rs. 1.53 lakhs (5.7%).

This shows an increase of 5% for the BJD, 3% for the INC and a sharp fall of at least 13% for the BJP since 2014.

Expense on Campaign Materials: 125(85%) MLAs have declared that they have spent an  amount on campaign materials and 22(15%) MLAs have declared that they have not spent any amount on campaign materials.

The Indian National Congress (INC) is said to have spent the highest on campaign materials – Rs. 3.42 lakhs (19.9%), followed by BJD which spent Rs. 2.72 lakhs (14.4 percent) and CPI (M) which spent Rs. 2.24 lakhs (8.4 percent).

By these figures, the largest chunk of expenses was done on Public meetings/processions without star campaigners (41%), followed by spending on campaign workers (16%) and campaign material (14%).

Sources of Funds

ADR India and Odisha Election Watch stated that out of the total funds received by MLAs, 7 percent were raised from political parties, 10 percent were raised by MLAs themselves and 83 percent were raised from other sources (amount received from any person / company/ gift/ donation, etc.).

While in 2014, on an average an MLA from BJD raised 37% of his/her election expense funds from their own funds. Similarly, a MLA from INC and BJP raised 57% and 32% of his/her election expense funds from their own funds.

Out of the 147 MLAs, 75 (51%) declared that they received funds from political parties and 72 (49%) declared that they didn’t receive any funds from political parties. 144 (98%) MLAs said that they had received funds from a person/ company/ associations/ donation/ gift, etc. and 3 MLAs (2%) said they didn’t receive funds through such means. Out of the MLA’s expenses analyzed, 60 of them (41%) said they used their own funds for the campaign.

Funds raised from political parties: On an average, an MLA from BJD raised 87.31%, an MLA from BJP raised 87.05%, an MLA from CPI (M) raised 85.53% and on an average an MLA from INC raised only 77.96% of his/her election fund from their respective party.

Comparing this with 2014, at the time, on an average, an MLA from BJD raised 10% of his/her election expense funds from the political party. Similarly, a MLA from INC raised 14% of his/her election expense funds from the political party, and BJP MLAs raised 55% of their election expense funds from the political party.

Funds raised through person/company/association/donation/gift: On an average an MLA from BJP raised 9%, an MLA from BJD raised 6%, an MLA from INC raised 5%, an MLA from CPI (M) raised 7% and 1 independent MLA raised 99% of his expense through these means.  

In comparison, in 2014, on an average a MLA from BJD raised 53% of his/her election expense funds from any person/company/firm/associations/body of persons etc. as loan, gift or donation while it was 29% and 2% for INC and BJP MLAs respectively.

The complete expense report of the 147 MLAs who stood in the Odisha State Assembly Elections, 2019 may be read below.

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Representation of Political Parties
A sharp increase in the number of political parties in Sikkim who contested elections between 2014 and 2015 is visible.(ADR). In the Sikkim Assembly Elections 2019, 9 political parties and independents were in the fray. These included 2 national political parties, 2 state political parties and 5 registered unrecognized parties. In comparison, during the 2014 Sikkim State Assembly elections, 5 political parties were in the fray. These included 2 national political parties, 2 state political parties and 1 registered unrecognized party.

Voter Turnout
The voter turnout for the Sikkim Assembly 2019 was 81% whereas voter turnout in 2014 assembly elections was 42%.

Vote Share of Winner 
The winners of the Sikkim State Assembly elections, 2019 won by an average of 52 % of total votes polled. In the 2014 elections, winners won by an average of 57% of total votes polled.        
 
Winners with highest vote share : 22 (69%) winners won with 50% and above of the total votes polled in their constituency. The top 3 winners who have attained the highest vote share during the Sikkim State Assembly Elections, 2019 are given below: 

Table: Winners with the highest vote share

Winners with Least Vote Share: 10(31%) winners won with less than 50% of the total votes polled in their constituency. The top 3 winners who have attained the least vote share during the Sikkim State Assembly Elections, 2019 are given below: 
 

 Table: Winners with least vote share
 
Party Wise Winners with Less than 50% of Vote Share: Out of 15 winner of Sikkim Democratic Front, 4(27%) won with less than 50 % of total votes polled in their constituencies and 6(35%) out of 17 winners from Sikkim Krantikari Morcha won with less than 50% of total votes polled in their constituency.

Representativeness of Winners
All the winners of the Sikkim State Assembly Elections, 2019 won with an average of 42% of the total registered voters. This implies that the winners represent on an average, 42% of the total electorate. In the Sikkim State Assembly Elections, 2014 won by an average of 24% of the total registered voters.

Party-wise Winners with less than 50% of Representativeness: Out of 15 winners of Sikkim Democratic Front, 13(87%) have won less than 50% of votes of the total registered voters in the constituency and all 17(100%) winners from Sikkim Krantikari Morcha have won less than 50 % of votes of the total registered voters in the constituency.

Margin of Victory for Winners
Winners with Least Margin of Victory : The details of top three winners with least margin of victory are given below:

Table: Winners with   Least Margin of Victory

Winners with Highest Margin of Victory: The details of the top three winners with the highest margin of victory are given below:

Table: Winners with Highest Margin of Victory 

Performance of Women Winners in Sikkim Assembly Elections, 2019

• Among the 32 winners,3 are women.
• Among the women winners, Raj Kumari Thapa (Sikkim Democratic Front) from Rangang-Yangang Constituency has won with the highest vote share, i.e. 53.47 % in her constituency and 13.27% of the margin of victory.

Performance of Re-elected Winners in Sikkim Assembly Elections, 2019

• Out of total 9 re-elected winners 7(78%) have won with a vote share of 50% and above. 

 
NOTA

• 5 re-elected winners have won with less than 10% of margin of victory whereas only 2 have won with more than 20% of the margin of victory. The NOTA button instated by the ECI in 2013 gave the voters an option of rejecting all the candidates in their constituency. The total number of votes polled for None-of-the-above option were 3039 votes during the Sikkim State Assembly Elections, 2019.

The post Understand the changes to the electoral scene in Sikkim: ADR appeared first on SabrangIndia.

SabrangIndia had previously reported on ADR’s report for phase II of the elections, which found, among other things, that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was the wealthiest candidate in that phase. Notably, this report found that the MLAs who won the 2014 elections and re-contested the 2019 polls saw significant increase in their average assets.
 
Criminal background of candidates 
The latest report analysed candidates who contested in all four phases, and found that 30% of the candidates analysed, or 332 candidates, had criminal cases against them. 23% of candidates analysed, or 257 candidates, had ‘serious criminal cases’ against them. The criteria for a serious criminal case includes: offences for which the minimum punishment is five years or more, non-bailable offences, offences related to abduction, murder, assault and rape, offences mentioned in the Representation of the People Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act, and crimes against women.
 
In 2009 and 2014, the proportion of candidates with criminal cases against them was 23%, making the lattes figure a significant jump from previous election cycles. In terms of the political parties, of the candidates analysed, 40% of candidates from Biju Janata Dal (BJD), 59% of candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 46% of candidates from the Indian National Congress (INC), 11% of candidates from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and 23% of independent candidates had criminal cases against them. Overall, 59 of Odisha’s 147 constituencies were termed “red alert constituencies,” with more than three candidates with criminal cases against them, per the report. In 2014, 56 constituencies were “red alert constituencies”.
 
Notably, seven candidates had declared convicted cases against them, and nine candidates had declared cases related to murder (Section 302 of the IPC) against them. 63 candidates had declared cases of attempt to murder (Section 307 of the IPC), and 49 candidates had declared cases related to crimes against women. Of these, two candidates had declared cases related to rape (Section 376 of the IPC).
 
Financial background of candidates
Of the candidates analysed, 6% were worth Rs. 5 crores or higher, and 10% were worth between Rs. 2 crores and Rs. 5 crores. 22% were worth between Rs. 50 lakhs and Rs. 2 crores. The majority of candidates were worth Rs. 50 lakhs, or less, with 25% of the candidates worth between Rs. 10 lakhs and Rs. 50 lakhs, and 37% of candidates worth less than Rs. 10 lakhs.
 
Of the 1121 candidates analysed, 27%, or 304 candidates were crorepatis. In comparison, of the 1420 candidates analysed for the 2014 Odisha assembly elections, 244 candidates, or 17%, were crorepatis. Meanwhile, of the 1261 candidates analysed for the 2009 assembly elections, only 94 candidates, or 7% were crorepatis.
 
The BJD had the highest number of crorepati candidates, with 97 of the 146 analysed. The BJP came in second with 75 of 145 candidates, and the Congress came in third, with 73 of 139 candidates. The average assets per candidate for the 2019 assembly elections amounted to Rs. 169 crores. This figure was Rs. 91.14 lakhs for the 2014 assembly elections, and Rs. 50.88 lakhs for the 2009 state elections.
 
In terms of the political parties, the BJD’s average assets per candidate, at Rs. 4.59 crores. This figure was Rs. 2.78 crores for the BJP, Rs. 3.85 crores for the Congress, Rs. 27.75 lakhs for the BSP, and Rs. 68.75 lakhs for the independent candidates. Although Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was the wealthiest candidate in phase II, overall, he came in second to Bobby Mohanty of the Congress, who contested from the Baramba constituency in the Cuttack district, and had total assets worth more than Rs. 106 crores. Joginath Sahoo of the Rashtriya Independent Morcha (RIM) was the candidate with the lowest total assets, amounting to Rs. 377. Six candidates declared that their total assets were zero.

89 of the MLAs re-contested this year’s assembly elections. Per ADR’s analysis, the average assets of these MLAs in 2014 were Rs. 2.10 crores. Notably, this figure has significantly increased over the last five years, with the average assets of these MLAs in 2019 amounting to Rs. 5.02 crores. The average growth in this figure is Rs. 2.91 crores, or 139%.
 
In terms of the political parties, the average assets for BJD MLAs were around Rs. 2.38 crores in 2014, and grew to around Rs. 5.05 crores in 2019, a 112.5% increase. For Congress MLAs, average assets were around Rs. 1.63 crores in 2014, and around Rs. 5.82 crores in 2019, making the increase nearly 256%. For BJP MLAs, average assets in 2014 were around Rs. 1.34 crores, and jumped to Rs. 5.44 crores in 2019, with an increase of 300.38%. For the sole BSP MLA who re-contested, average assets were nearly Rs. 73 lakhs in 2014, and almost Rs. 4 crores in 2019, making the increase more than 440%.
 
Of the 1121 candidates analysed, ADR found that just 112, or 10%, were women. While 117 women contested the 2014 assembly elections, the proportion of women candidates was lower then, at 8%. The highest number of female candidates were independent candidates–29. However, these were just 10% of the total number of independent candidates–298. The BJD came in second, having fielded 19 women candidates (13%), while the Congress fielded 13 (9%), the BJP fielded 12 (8%), and the BSP fielded 10 female candidates (9%).
 
The results for the 2019 Odisha assembly elections will be announced alongside the results of the Lok Sabha elections, on May 23.
 
The complete report by ADR and Odisha Election Watch may be read here

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