Approximately one-third of women MPs in the Lok Sabha are facing criminal allegations. In the Rajya Sabha, 10 out of 37 women MPs (27%) have criminal cases, while 109 out of 400 women MLAs across state and Union Territory assemblies (27%) share similar backgrounds.
1 / 7Women Lawmakers with Criminal Cases | An analysis by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) reveals that out of 512 affidavits from current women MPs and MLAs, 143, or 28%, have acknowledged criminal cases against them. This encompasses elected officials from both Parliament and state assemblies/Union Territories. (Image: Canva)
2 / 778 Women Lawmakers under Serious Charges | The ADR report highlights that 15% of all women MPs and MLAs in office are contending with severe criminal allegations including offenses like attempted murder and murder.
3 / 7Lok Sabha Women Lawmakers with Criminal Records | Almost one in three women MPs in the Lok Sabha have faced criminal charges. Among the 75 current women MPs in the Lok Sabha, 24 (32%) have reported criminal cases in their election affidavits, with 14 (19%) confronting serious charges.
4 / 7Rajya Sabha and State Assembly Women Lawmakers with Criminal Charges | In the Rajya Sabha, 10 out of 37 women MPs (27%) are facing criminal allegations, while among 400 women MLAs from state and UT assemblies, 109 (27%) encounter analogous situations. Furthermore, 7 women MPs (19%) and 57 women MLAs (14%) are under serious criminal allegations.
5 / 7States with the Most Women Legislators with Criminal Records | Goa and Telangana stand out with 67% of their women MPs/MLAs reporting criminal cases. Andhra Pradesh is close behind at 58%, while Kerala and Punjab both register 50%. Bihar has a notable 43%. (Image: Canva)
6 / 7States with Highest Number of Women Legislators Facing Serious Criminal Charges | The highest rates of women lawmakers under serious criminal allegations can be seen in Telangana (42%). Other significant figures include Andhra Pradesh (38%), Goa (33%), Bihar (26%), Meghalaya (25%), and both Punjab and Kerala at 21%. (Image: Canva)
7 / 7Political Parties with the Most Women Legislators Facing Criminal Records | Among the BJP’s 217 women lawmakers, 23% have criminal cases, with 11% facing serious allegations. The Congress performs poorer, with 34% of its 83 women legislators encountering criminal cases and 20% serious ones. Regional parties present even higher percentages — 65% of TDP’s 20 and 69% of AAP’s 13 women legislators have reported criminal cases, with 45% and 31% respectively under serious charges.
