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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Is corruption really a big issue? Stats say otherwise -Deeptiman Tiwary

Is corruption really a big issue? Stats say otherwise -Deeptiman Tiwary

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published Published on Mar 23, 2014   modified Modified on Mar 23, 2014
-The Times of India


NEW DELHI: Is corruption really an issue in elections? Some surveys claim that people worry more about the economy than corruption. Poll data for 2004 and 2009 general elections show that not only do political parties continue to repeatedly field candidates facing corruption charges, people even vote for them.

Analysis of affidavits filed by Lok Sabha candidates shows that in 2004 general elections, a total of 12 candidates facing cases under Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) were fielded by different parties. Nine of them won. In 2009, 15 candidates with PCA cases were fielded of which four won. Over all, 27 candidates with PCA cases were fielded last two elections and 16 of them won -a success rate of almost 60 per cent.

Data also show that only one of the 2004 winners (SP's Rashid Masood) with corruption cases lost in 2009. Of the nine winning candidates in 2004, only three (including SAD's Rattan Singh and RJD chief Lalu Prasad) contested 2009 elections. Among other 2004 winning candidates, BSP supremo Mayawati was UP CM at the time of the 2009 general elections while SAD's Sukhbir Singh Badal was Punjab deputy CM. One candidate died while others did not contest.

A recent survey conducted by Lok Foundation and University of Pennsylvania's Centre for the Advanced Study of India says corruption has found some traction with the voters in this election, but still at second position compared to economic growth.

Social and political theorist and professor at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Aditya Nigam says though people seemed to have accepted corruption as a part of life until recently, this election could be different. "Giving bribes at every step for decades had made people accept corruption as their destiny. But the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement and Arvind Kejriwal's AAP have changed that feeling. They have shown to the people that something could be done about corruption. Economic growth is too abstract an idea to attract the masses unless someone breaks it down for them," he says.

According to Association of Democratic Rights (ADR) data, in the five years preceding 2009 elections, a total of 98 candidates with corruption cases pending against them were fielded in various assembly and parliamentary constituencies. As many as 36 won which included 4 MPs (of the 15 corrupt fielded). Three other MPs were accommodated in the Rajya Sabha.

Nigam attributes rise of identity politics as the reason behind corrupt candidates winning elections. He says post 90's, the rise of OBC and dalit parties in various regions made the question of identity more profound for the voters which coupled with local factors beat corruption as an issue.


The Times of India, 23 March, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/specials/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Is-corruption-really-a-big-issue-Stats-say-otherwise/articleshow/32520482.cms?


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