Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have emerged as the top two states in the country with the highest proportion of women MPs and MLAs facing criminal charges, according to a recent analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The report, which scrutinized the backgrounds of 512 sitting women legislators across India, has raised serious concerns about the increasing criminalisation of politics among women representatives.
In Telangana, out of 12 sitting women legislators, eight (67%) have declared criminal cases in their affidavits, and five (42%) are facing serious charges, including grave offences such as attempt to murder. This makes Telangana one of the worst-performing states on this front. Andhra Pradesh is not far behind, with 14 of its 24 women legislators (58%) facing criminal charges, and nine (38%) booked in serious cases.
Nationally, 143 out of 512 women MPs and MLAs (28%) have declared criminal cases, while 78 (15%) face serious criminal charges. These include allegations of crimes ranging from attempt to murder to murder, indicating a deep-rooted issue that spans both gender and geography.
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Among political parties, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) top the list for the highest proportion of women legislators with criminal records. The report found that 65% of TDP’s women MPs and MLAs, and 69% of AAP’s, have criminal cases against them. Even more concerning is the percentage of those with serious charges—45% for TDP and 31% for AAP.
The report also highlighted the financial status of women legislators. Andhra Pradesh leads with the highest average assets among women lawmakers, standing at ₹74.22 crore. In comparison, the national average is ₹20.34 crore. The cumulative declared wealth of the 512 women MPs and MLAs is a staggering ₹10,417 crore, with 17 of them being billionaires.
On the educational front, 71% of women legislators are graduates or hold higher qualifications. Another 24% have studied up to Class V–XII, while only 12 legislators are diploma holders. Encouragingly, youth representation is higher among women, with 22% falling in the 25–40 age group, as opposed to just 10% among male legislators.
The ADR’s findings serve as a reminder that while gender representation in Indian politics is growing, it is also crucial to address the quality and integrity of leadership entering public office.
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