Criminal Backgrounds and Wealth Among Candidates in Assam Assembly Elections

A recent report highlights concerning trends in the Assam Assembly elections, revealing that 38% of candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. The data shows a rise in serious offenses and wealth among candidates, with 39% reporting assets over Rs 1 crore. Major political parties like Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party have significant proportions of candidates with criminal backgrounds. The report raises questions about the integrity of candidate selection and the impact on democracy, emphasizing the need for electoral reform.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 5, 2026, 20:03 IST

Overview of Candidates in Assam Assembly Elections

A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms reveals that out of 863 candidates vying for seats in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, 324 individuals, representing 38%, have disclosed criminal charges against themselves.

In comparison, during the 2021 Assembly elections, 355 out of 928 candidates, also 38%, reported similar criminal backgrounds.

This year, 201 candidates, or 23%, have admitted to serious criminal offenses, an increase from 18% in 2021.

Among the political parties, the Congress party has the highest percentage of candidates with criminal records, with 72 out of 85 candidates, or 85%. The Indian Union Muslim League follows closely with 21 of 25 candidates, or 84%, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has 51 out of 77 candidates, or 66%.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has 59 of 93 candidates, or 63%, with declared criminal cases, while the Communist Party of India has 13 of 24 candidates, or 54%.

From the Kerala Congress (Mani), five out of 12 candidates, or 42%, have reported criminal cases, and six out of eight candidates from the Kerala Congress have done the same.

One candidate each from the Nationalist Congress Party, Kerala Congress (B), and Kerala Congress (Jacob) has also declared criminal charges.

When it comes to serious criminal cases, the Congress leads with 60 out of 85 candidates, or 71%, followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party with 39 out of 93 candidates, or 42%. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has 21 out of 77 candidates, or 27%, while the Indian Union Muslim League has 13 out of 25 candidates, or 52%.

The Communist Party of India has two out of 24 candidates, or 8%, with serious criminal cases, while Kerala Congress (Mani) has two out of 12 candidates, or 17%, and the Kerala Congress has four out of eight candidates, or 50%. One candidate from the Nationalist Congress Party has also reported a serious criminal case.

Both the sole candidates from Kerala Congress (B) and Kerala Congress (Jacob) have declared serious criminal cases.

Fifteen candidates have reported crimes against women, including one candidate who has declared a case involving repeated rape against the same individual.

Additionally, four candidates have reported murder charges, while thirteen have declared attempts to commit murder.

The report indicates that the Supreme Court's directives from February 2020 have had minimal effect on candidate selection, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms.

The court had mandated that political parties publicly explain their choices of candidates with criminal backgrounds over those without such records.

“In the recent two state Assembly elections held in 2025, it was noted that political parties provided unfounded reasons such as the candidate's popularity or their social contributions, claiming that the cases were politically motivated,” the organization stated. “These justifications are neither valid nor substantial for selecting candidates with criminal histories.”

It further emphasized, “This data clearly indicates that political parties are uninterested in reforming the electoral process, allowing lawbreakers to become lawmakers, which undermines our democracy.”

Rise in Wealth Among Candidates

Increase in Candidates with Assets Over Rs 1 Crore

The report highlights that 39% of candidates participating in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections have declared assets exceeding Rs 1 crore.

Out of the 863 candidates analyzed, 339 fall into this wealth category. In 2021, only 27% of candidates, or 249 out of 928, reported assets over Rs 1 crore.

Among the major parties, the Kerala Congress has the highest proportion, with all eight candidates declaring assets above Rs 1 crore. Following them, Kerala Congress (Mani) has 92%, and the Indian Union Muslim League has 84%.

The Congress party has 61 out of 85 candidates, or 72%, in this wealth bracket, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has 52 out of 77 candidates, or 68%. The Bharatiya Janata Party has 52 out of 93 candidates, or 56%, and the Communist Party of India has 12 out of 24 candidates, or 50%.

Two out of three candidates from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) have declared assets exceeding Rs 1 crore. The sole candidates from Kerala Congress (B) and Kerala Congress (Jacob) have also reported assets in this range.

The average assets per candidate in the 2026 elections stand at Rs 2.78 crore, a significant increase from Rs 1.69 crore in 2021.