BJP's top 21 MPs - cases involving rape of women against legislators

In five years, the BJP has given tickets to 66 who are facing crime cases against women

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. December 10, 2019, Tuesday

A case is being filed against 21 BJP, 16 Congress and seven YSRCP MPs for crimes against women, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said in a statement.

According to the ADR, the number of Lok Sabha MPs facing crime cases against women in 2009 was two, which has increased to 19 in 2019. There have been cases of rape against three MPs and six MLAs in the last five years.

In the last five years, the Election Commission's accredited parties have given tickets to 41 candidates against whom rape cases were ongoing.

In the last five years, the BJP has given tickets to the 66 Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and State Legislatures for a total of 66 candidates facing criminal cases against women. The Congress gave 46 such votes while the BSP gave tickets to 40 candidates.

The ADR and National Election Watch studied 4822 affidavits out of a total of 4896 affidavits of the current 759 MPs and 4063 legislators. According to the ADR report, the number of candidates facing crime cases against women has increased from 38 to 126 in the last five years. Which represents a 231 percent jump.

West Bengal has the highest number of 16 MPs and MLAs who are facing criminal cases against women. Thereafter, the number of such MPs and MLAs in Maharashtra and Odisha is 12-12. In the last five years, a total of 572 candidates who have been facing crime cases against women have contested the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha or Assembly.

Out of which 410 candidates were given tickets by recognized parties and 89 of them were nominated for Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The political parties gave tickets to the highest number of 84 candidates in Maharashtra and 75 in Bihar.