The AAP, which rose to power riding an anti-corruption movement, has fielded highest number of candidates with criminal cases in the Delhi elections, followed by Congress and BJP, according to a report by poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) released on Monday. In all, 93 candidates from the three parties have declared criminal cases. Of the 70 candidates AAP has fielded 44 (63%) have declared criminal cases against them. Among them, 29 (41%) have been booked in serious criminal cases. While Congress has fielded 29 candidates having criminal cases, 13 of them have been booked in serious criminal cases. Meanwhile, 20 of BJP's 68 candidates have criminal cases registered against them. Nine of them have been booked in serious criminal cases. The ADR has analysed 699 candidates fielded by various parties for the Assembly elections. Among them, 278 are from national parties, 29 are from state parties, 254 from registered unrecognised parties and 138 candidates are contesting as Independents. Among the 699, 132 (19%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. In the 2020 Delhi elections, among the 672 candidates analysed, 133 (20%) had declared criminal cases against themselves. While 81(12%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases this time, in the 2020 elections, 104 (15%) candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves. Moreover, 13 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women, two have been booked for murder and five for attempt to murder. “All major parties have given tickets. from 12% to 63 % candidates. who have declared criminal cases against themselves,” the report said. It added that the Supreme Court, in its directions dated February 13, 2020, had specifically instructed parties to give reasons for such selection. Also, the upcoming elections will see more illiterate candidates when compared to the 2020 polls. While 16 illiterate candidates had contested in 2020, this number this time has increased to 19. The number of graduate candidates have also increased from 62 in 2020 to 84 in 2025. The number of postgraduates, meanwhile, have increased from 90 in 2020 to 104. Further, the number of young candidates have see a drop with only 46 candidates being fielded from the 25-30 age group. In 2020, 57 candidates were fielded from the 25-30 age group. At 235, the maximum number of candidates this time are in the 41-50 age group. Three above 80 years of age are also contesting the polls.
