Criminal Records Among Candidates in Assam Assembly Elections 2026

A recent report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) reveals that 14% of candidates in the 2026 Assam Assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves. The analysis shows significant disparities among political parties, with Congress and AIUDF having higher percentages of candidates with criminal backgrounds compared to BJP. The report also highlights serious charges, including murder and crimes against women, and identifies several constituencies as 'red alert' areas. Despite Supreme Court mandates for transparency, the prevalence of candidates with criminal histories continues to be a pressing issue in Assam's electoral landscape.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 31, 2026, 14:51 IST

Overview of Criminal Cases in Assam Elections

Guwahati, Mar 31: A recent analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) reveals that 14% of candidates running in the 2026 Assam Assembly elections have reported criminal cases against themselves.

The report, released on Tuesday, is based on the self-declared affidavits of all 722 candidates, indicating that 102 individuals have acknowledged having criminal cases, with 82 candidates (11%) facing serious charges.

Among the prominent political parties, 28 out of 99 candidates from Congress (28%) have disclosed criminal cases, while 11 out of 30 candidates from AIUDF (37%) have done the same. In contrast, only 8 out of 90 BJP candidates (9%) reported criminal cases.

Regarding serious criminal allegations, 20 Congress candidates (20%) and 9 AIUDF candidates (30%) are implicated, whereas 8 candidates from BJP (9%) have acknowledged serious charges.

In comparison, during the 2021 Assam Assembly elections, 15% of candidates (138 out of 941) had declared criminal cases, with 12% (109 candidates) facing serious allegations.

The ADR report also highlights the types of offenses, noting that eight candidates have reported cases related to murder (IPC Section 302/BNS Section 103), and nine candidates have cases concerning attempted murder (IPC Section 307/BNS Section 109).

Additionally, two candidates have disclosed cases related to crimes against women.

The report identifies eight constituencies as 'red alert' areas, where three or more candidates have declared criminal cases. These constituencies include Algapur-Katlicherra, Sonai, Barhampur, Bijni, Binnakandi, Bokakhat, Karimganj South, and Goreswar.

Despite directives from the Supreme Court requiring transparency and justification, political parties continue to nominate candidates with criminal backgrounds, with 9% to 37% of candidates across major parties facing such allegations.

These findings highlight the ongoing issue of candidates with criminal histories participating in Assam's electoral process.