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. The data suggest muscle power, along with deep pockets, seemed to have increased candidates' prospects of winning in the polls
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