Money, Muscle Again Show Strength in Elections

What can be termed as a replication of Lok Sabha elections, money and muscle power have again fared well, this time in Assembly elections, with a staggering 50 per cent crorepatis and over 36 per cent of candidates with criminal background being elected in three state assembly polls.

In Maharashtra, according to an analysis by National Election Watch (NEW), 184 candidates – 63.895 of the 288-member assembly – who have assets of over a crore were voted to power. In 2004, this number was 108.

Picture is identical in Haryana, as well. A total of 35 candidates – 58.33 per cent of the 60-member assembly – who fall under category of crorepatis were elected. There were 47 millionaires in the 2005 assembly in Haryana and 17 such MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh in 2004.