Focus on netas Most Maharashtra MLAs are millionaires & face criminal charges Of the 288 newly elected members of the Maharashtra Assembly, 253 are millionaires, while 165 face criminal charges, including those of attempt to murder, robbery and kidnapping, according to data analysed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). It said the Bharatiya Janata Party had the highest number of new legislators with criminal charges against them. Of the party’s 122 new legislators, 74 (61 per cent) face such charges. Of the Shiv Sena’s 63 new legislators, 48 (76 per cent) are alleged to have committed crimes. The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, which won 42 and 41 seats, have 15 (36 per cent) and 19 (46 per cent) legislators, respectively, alleged to be involved in criminal activities. Maharashtra The data suggest muscle power, along with deep pockets, seemed to have increased candidates’ prospects of winning in the polls Total seats Winners with* Millionaire* won criminal cases winners Bharatiya Janata Party 122 74 (61%) 104 (85%) Shiv Sena 63 48 (76%) 54 (86%) Indian National Congress 42 15 (36%) 39 (95%) Nationalist Congress Party 41 19 (46%) 38 (91%) Rashtriya Samaj Paksha 1 All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen 2 Peasants And Workers Party of India 3 Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi 3 Samajwadi Party 1 Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangha 1 CPI (Marxist) 1 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena 1 Independents 7 Total 288 Criminal cases against elected MLAs Communal disharmony 3 Murder 3 Kidnapping 9 Crime against women 11 Robbery and dacoity 14 Attempt to murder 15 Assets (~ crore) Average asset 2009 2014 % change Candidate 1.01 3.62258.41 Winners 4.99 10.87 117.83 Party-wise average asset BJP 4.16 11.67 180.52 Shiv Sena 3.87 6.90 78.29 Congress 4.52 9.01 99.33 NCP 3.87 11.82 205.42 Independents 4.10 14.62 256.58 Education Age-wise of winners break-up of Illiterate 3 winners 5th pass 18 25-30 4 8th pass 15 31-40 53 41-50 94 10th pass 46 51-60 96 12th pass 54 61-70 36 Graduate 70 71-80 4 Postgraduate 28 81-above 1 Graduate 49 professional * Percentage of the total MLAs Doctorate 7 analysed; lists are not exhaustive Source: Association for Democratic Others 8 Reforms.