As many as 18 per cent candidates contesting the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves, while 25 per cent have assets exceeding ₹1 crore, according to a report released on Monday by the Association for Democratic Reforms.
The report analysed 3,992 candidates, of whom 722 (18 per cent) disclosed criminal cases. Among them, 404 (10 per cent) reported serious charges. In comparison, during the 2021 Assembly elections, 466 (13 per cent) of 3,559 candidates had declared criminal cases, including 207 (6 per cent) involving serious offences.
Among major parties, 118 (69 per cent) of 170 candidates from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, 92 (40 per cent) of 231 from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and 70 (40 per cent) of 175 from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam declared criminal cases. Similarly, 16 (48 per cent) of 33 candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 14 (50 per cent) of 28 from the Indian National Congress, nine (50 per cent) of 18 from the Pattali Makkal Katchi, five (50 per cent) of 10 from the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, three (60 per cent) of five from the Communist Party of India and four (80 per cent) of five from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have declared criminal cases in their affidavits.
As for serious criminal cases, 60 (35 per cent) AIADMK candidates, 43 (19 per cent) from TVK, 32 (18 per cent) from DMK, nine (27 per cent) from BJP, five (18 per cent) from INC, six (33 per cent) from PMK, one (10 per cent) from DMDK and one (20 per cent) from CPI reported such charges.
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The report also found that 981 candidates (25 per cent) are crorepatis, while 22 (0.55 per cent) have declared assets exceeding ₹100 crore. Among major parties, two (7 per cent) INC candidates, seven (4 per cent) from DMK, three (2 per cent) from AIADMK, one (6 per cent) from PMK, one (9 per cent) from Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam and eight (3 per cent) from TVK fall into this category.
Meanwhile, 27 (96 per cent) INC candidates, 170 (97 per cent) from DMK, 160 (94 per cent) from AIADMK, 31 (94 per cent) from BJP, 16 (89 per cent) from PMK, all 10 candidates from DMDK, 156 (68 per cent) from TVK and three (60 per cent) from CPI have declared assets above ₹1 crore.
The average asset per candidate in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections stands at ₹5.17 crore, a sharp rise from ₹1.72 crore in 2021. At least four candidates — Mohan Kumar M of the All India Jananayaka Makkal Kazhagam and independents T Selvaraj, Gunasekaran P and A Jegan Salamondoss — reported zero assets.
On education, 1,711 candidates (43 per cent) declared qualifications between Class 5 and Class 12, while 1,822 (46 per cent) reported being graduates or above. Additionally, 301 candidates hold diplomas, 95 are illiterate and 56 are literate without formal schooling.
Women account for only 442 candidates, representing 11 per cent of the total.
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