Independent Analysis by Himachal Pradesh Election Watch (2007)
CRIMINALS (Cases Pending)
21 out of the total 68 (31 per cent) Members of the Himachal Legislative Assembly 2007, have criminal cases pending against them. Of these, 18/ 41 are from BJP (44 %); 2/ 23 from INC (9 %); and 1 Independent. These cases include charge of threatening to kill, kidnapping, and other violent crimes, like assault, rioting, arson, and financial fraud.
Under the Supreme Court judgment 2003, the candidates were also required to declare their (and their spouse’s and dependents’) assets and liabilities, and their educational qualifications.
HIGH ASSETS (More than a Crore)
This information from the affidavits reveals that there are 17 crorepati MLAs. The number of crorepatis in the major parties is 8 out of 41 for the BJP, 7 out of 23 for the Congress, and 2 Independents.
HIGH LIABILITIES (More than 10 Lakh)
In terms of liabilities, 20 MLAs have liabilities of more than Rs.10 lakhs each. The party-wise analysis shows INC with the highest number (11), followed by the BJP (8), and Independent (1).
NO PAN
Interestingly, as many as 1 MLA (Independent) with HIGH ASSETS either do not have or has been reluctant to mention his PAN. Similarly, there are 2 MLAs (1 Congress, and 1 Independent) who do not have PAN in spite of HIGH LIABILITIES (more than 10 Lakh) from Banks/ Financial Institutions.
EDUCATION
The comparison of educational qualifications shows that the BJP has 21 graduates and 6 post-graduates, the Congress has 14 graduates and 5 post-graduates and 11 MLAs i.e. 16% of the total elected representatives have not even completed their schooling.
Success Rate of Women Candidates
* Out of 68 MLAs only 5 (7 %) are women.
* The success rate of women candidates as a whole is 20% (5 women won out of total 25 women candidates).
* The success rate of women candidates from BJP is 66% (4 women won out of total 6 women candidates fielded).
Note: The success rate of men candidates from BJP is 60%.
* The success rate of women candidates from Congress party is around 16% (1 woman won out of total 6 women candidates fielded).
Note: The success rate of men candidates from Congress party is 34%.
Remarks : It is clear from the above that the success rate of women candidates of BJP is higher than that of its men candidates, whereas the success rate of women candidates of INC is extremely low than that of its men candidates. Of course, the small numbers of winning women does influence these percentages.
It possibly indicates that neither BJP nor INC had enough faith in women candidates, it might also have fielded women from those constituencies that it was less sure of winning.
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It is reiterated that all the above information and whatever is contained in the accompanying tables, has been culled from the affidavits submitted by candidates along with their nomination form. In case of any discrepancy in the data reported here and that put up on the website of the Election Commission of India, data on the website of the Election Commission of India should be considered authentic.
Disclaimer: The Election Commission of India
