As the state gears up for the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024, one figure has sparked widespread concern: 60 per cent of sitting MLAs have declared criminal cases against them. This statistic raises crucial questions about voters’ priorities and the ethical standards of political representatives. With public awareness on the rise, particularly in urban centres like Mumbai, it’s worth asking: will criminal records impact voter decisions?

The report:

The presence of criminal cases against a majority of candidates has long been part of India’s electoral reality. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) reports that over 60 per cent of Maharashtra’s assembly hopefuls have pending criminal cases, some involving serious charges like corruption and violent crimes.