Pic Via Telangana state portal
Hyderabad : In a shocking revelation, a recent report published by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Telangana Election Watch has uncovered startling statistics regarding the criminal backgrounds of the state’s legislators. Out of the 118 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Telangana, a staggering 72 MLAs, representing 61 percent of the total, are facing criminal charges. Even more concerning is the fact that 46 of them have serious criminal cases pending against them.
According to the report, 59 out of the 101 MLAs from the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party, which constitutes 58 percent of their total representation, have criminal cases registered against them. Among the accused, seven MLAs are charged under IPC Section 307 for attempted murder, and four MLAs are facing cases related to crimes against women. Shockingly, one sitting MLA has even been charged with rape under IPC Section 376.
The report, based on the affidavits submitted by candidates prior to the 2018 Assembly elections and subsequent bye-elections, paints a grim picture of the state’s political landscape. Among other findings, the study highlights that six out of seven MLAs from AIMIM, four out of six from Congress, and two from BJP have declared criminal cases against themselves. Additionally, 38 percent of the ruling BRS MLAs, amounting to 38 out of 101, have serious criminal charges lodged against them.
With the upcoming Telangana Assembly elections scheduled for November 30, these revelations have sent shockwaves through the political sphere. The BRS government, led by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, is aiming for a third consecutive term. However, the opposition, particularly the Congress party, is intensifying its campaign in the state, capitalizing on the public’s concerns about the criminalization of politics.
Stay tuned for further updates as the state braces itself for a pivotal electoral battle, and as the citizens await the chance to cast their votes on November 30. Counting of votes is slated for December 3, 2023.
Reported by Indo-Asian News Service (IANS)
