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European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 05
May 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | - 1135 -
Criminalisation of politics
Kamaljit Singh
Associate Professor
Department of Political Science
Govind National College Narangwal
Email:-ksohi10@yahoo.com
Mob. No:- 9501396500
ABSTRACT
Criminalisation of politics is a big challenges for democracy. Many legislators in India
has a criminal background. The reason lies in our socio-economic and political systems. The
policy of liberalisation and globalisation provides ample opportunities to those in power for
corrupt practices. The political parties hire criminals to win elections. The criminal- politicians
nexus ensure mutual benefits for both. The situation is becoming more grave and complex
because these candidates of criminal background manage to get democratic endorsement. The
issue characterises the moral downfall of the society as a whole. So the need of the time is that
law breakers should be firmly discouraged from participation in election process. Besides, this
the constitution needs to be amended to prevent the criminals from being nominated and
contesting elections.
KEYWORDS:- Criminalisation, Politics, Election, Legislature, Criminals, Nexus,
Criminalisation of politics is one of the biggest challenges before democracy. But
shockingly, it has become an integral part of politics in India. It is really an irony that some
hard core criminals become parliamentarians and run the government. In other words politics
today has become not the last but the first resort of the scoundrel. As per Election Commission
estimates 1500 candidates in the 1996 parliamentary election had criminal records and 40 of
them got elected in the Lok Sabha1
. The picture is even more distressing in case of state
legislatures. Out of the 4072 sitting MLAs in all the states, more than 700 have criminal
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European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 05
May 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | - 1136 -
records. According to the report of India Today every third MP in the 16th Lok Sabha has
criminal charges.2The charges against these MLAs and MPs range from simple theft, bribery,
extortion, ransom, rape, molestation, murder, kidnapping, communal violence etc. The whole
political lot in India is brimming with criminals and the choices are between those that have a
foot long rap and those that have a mile long rap sheet.
3
The reason of criminalisation of politics lies in our socio-economic and political
systems. All over India an estimated rupees seven thousand crores are spent for elections to
parliamentary and state legislatures in a cycle of 5 years. There is little transparency in the
exercise of power by the state. This colossal expenditure can be sustained only when high
returns are ensured and returns can be high only if high levels of corruptions allowed to be
practiced for a long period of time. Obviously, this makes a vicious cycle resulting in the
institutionalization of politics. Since India is a country of mixed economy, largely controlled
by the state, and to some extent, state still exercises control over it despite the policy of
liberalisation and globalisation. This provides ample opportunities to those in power for corrupt
practices. Anyone wanting to start a business or run an industry or be gainfully self- employed
had to seek state patronage in the form of permits or licences as well as freedom from official
harassment.
The politicians exploit this situation for their own optimum benefits. While awarding
permits or licences, merits do not deserve consideration. What becomes main points of
consideration are the benefits that they get from them. Even illegal practices are allowed to
flourish, often under the patronage of official authorities. Sometimes government machinery
are misused to serve their own ends. Criminals and politicians nexus is one of the important
aspects of this problem. The political parties hire criminals to ensure their victory in election.
Dinesh Goswami committee highlighted the problem of booth capturing and suggested that
legislative measures should be taken to check the booth capturing , rigging and intimidation of
voters.4 They deploy greater financial resources and recruit a number of criminal elements to
generate majority through dubious means. The criminals by helping and abetting the politicians
tried to gain safe ground for themselves. The political parties as reward to their services
rendered, provide them patronage and protection. They by abusing their power and privilege
get dropped all the charges levelled against them. As The Times of India points out, “ Indeed,
today far from shrinking at the thought of harbouring criminals and anti-social elements, parties
seek them out, judging with muscle and money combination, they represent it to be of
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European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 05
May 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | - 1137 -
enormous value. Rough estimates suggest that in any state election 20% of candidates are
drawn from criminal backgrounds. For the parties, it means overflowing coffers and unlimited
funds to fight elections and for the criminals it means protection from the law and respectability
in the eyes of society.”5
The warning potential of the criminals hold great attraction for the political parties. In
a democratic set-up like India where power lies in numerical strength, parties field such
candidates whose win ability is insured. Mafia dons and criminal elements have sufficient
muscle and money power to exploit and use them in their own favour. It is well known to all,
that voters are forced to vote for local strong man. Bogus voting is a common phenomenon in
Indian election system, which is widely practiced by the criminals. The reign of terror that these
criminals spread in their area of operations almost confirm that they will win the seat for the
party.
The unique feature of democracy provides a criminal, an opportunity to contest
election even from jail. The irony is that some of them are hardened criminals, but they win
elections and reach the parliament. In 2000 elections to the Bihar state assembly, every single
one of the underworld dons and seamstress who contested the election, either from jail or in
hiding, were elected and with big margins.
6 Those who won with huge margins, were facing
the charges of grave offences ranging from extortion and kidnapping to murder. After their
victory some of them were brought from the jail in police van for the swearing in ceremony.
The criminal- politicians nexus ensure mutual benefits. It is this alliance which helps Indian
parliamentarians to refrain from passing legislations which intend to hit hard this relation and
make politics free from criminals and corruption. The political parties having different
ideologies, go beyond their party lines and unite to invalidate or make ineffective the steps
which are to be taken to address the issues which are likely to have adverse impact on their
interest.
The situation becomes all the more grave and complex when these candidates of
criminal background manage to get democratic endorsement. The fact that these criminal
elements are able to win indicates not only the enormous cloud they wield but also that
corruption and the background of the candidates have become non issues to votes.7
It has almost
gained social acceptability. Today, general perception is that every politician is corrupt and to
some extent it holds truth also. So it has completely made meaningless the question of voting
