Kerala polls 2026: 38% candidates face criminal cases, 39% crorepatis, says ADR report

As Kerala prepares for the Assembly elections on April 9, a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed the growing influence of criminal backgrounds and wealth among candidates.

Analysing 863 candidates , the ADR report found that 38 per cent face criminal charges , with 201 declaring serious criminal cases . In comparison, in 2021, 355 out of 928 candidates had criminal cases, including 167 with serious charges.

Among parties, Congress leads with 72 out of 85 candidates reporting criminal cases, followed by BJP with 59 out of 93, CPI(M) with 51 out of 77, IUML with 21 out of 25, and CPI with 13 out of 24. For serious criminal charges , Congress has 60, BJP 39, CPI(M) 21, IUML 13, and CPI 2 candidates.

The report also noted cases involving crimes against women , including one repeated rape allegation, along with four murder charges and 13 attempted murder cases .

Despite a Supreme Court directive in 2020 urging parties to justify candidates with criminal backgrounds, ADR said parties continue to give unfounded reasons like popularity, social work, or politically motivated charges to defend their selections.

Wealth is another major factor. 39 per cent of candidates are crorepatis, including 61 from Congress, 52 from BJP, 52 from CPI(M), 21 from IUML, and 12 from CPI . The total declared assets of all 863 candidates amount to Rs 2,403 crore , averaging Rs 2.78 crore per candidate , up from Rs 1.69 crore in 2021. The ADR observed that money power dominates candidate selection , with parties preferring wealthy nominees.

The report highlights the continuing interplay of criminality and wealth in elections, stressing the need for greater transparency and accountability in Kerala politics.