AP Assembly Polls: 94% of YSR & TDP candidates are crore-patis, says ADR analysis

As Andhra Pradesh gears up to face the assembly polls for its 175 seats on May 13, an analysis by the nonprofit Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed that 94% of candidates of both the ruling YSR Congress and the Opposition TDP are crore-patis. The share, however, drops to 80% in the case of the BJP and 50% for the Congress.

There are 2368 candidates in all in the fray, and 604 (26%) of them are crore-patis. The number was 632 (32%) in 2019 polls.

The role of money power in our election is evident from the fact that all major political parties have given tickets to wealthy candidates, the ADR analysis said. Among the major parties, 65(94%) out of 175 YSRCP candidates, 134(94%) out of 143 TDP candidates, 18(86%) out of 21 Janasena Party candidates, 8(80%) out of 10 BJP candidates, and 79(50%) out of 158 Congress candidates have declared assets of Rs 1 crore and more.

Criminal cases
The ADR analysis also showed 543 (23%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. In 2019, the number was 331(17%) out of 2207 candidates. Of them, 374(16%) have declared they are facing serious criminal cases. In 2019, 220(11%) were fighting such serious cases.

Among the major parties, 87(50%) out of 175 YSR Congress candidates, 119(83%) out of 143 TDP candidates, 42(27%) out of Congress 158 candidates, and 8 (80%) out of 10 BJP candidates are battling criminal cases.

Eighty-nine candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Of them, four candidates have declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376). Sixteen have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves.