In the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, many candidates have been to jail for various reasons, like corruption and riots. This includes big names like Arvind Kejriwal, the head of AAP, and his close friend Manish Sisodia. Political experts say that being jailed doesn’t really change how popular a politician is. Sometimes, people might feel sorry for a politician who has been jailed, but that doesn’t always mean they’ll get more votes.
Kejriwal was arrested last year because of a money-related case linked to a now-abandoned liquor policy. He got special permission to leave jail to campaign but soon resigned as chief minister, saying he only wants to be in the position if the public believes he is honest. His party buddy Atishi took over as chief minister after him.
Kejriwal claims that he was jailed because the BJP wanted to paint him as a thief, but even those who oppose him think he is not corrupt. However, BJP leaders criticize him for acting proud about being jailed, comparing it to someone celebrating for being in jail during India’s freedom struggle.
According to Abhishek Giri, a political science teacher at Delhi University, being in jail does not determine how well candidates perform during elections. While some politicians may have serious charges against them, it doesn’t always hurt their chances of winning. Giri believes that Kejriwal’s past as an anti-corruption fighter makes his jail time look bad, but voters might focus more on the benefits he has provided, like free water and electricity.
Another expert, Azhar Mehboob from Jamia Millia Islamia, mentioned that people’s opinions about jailed politicians do not always reflect voting choices. Some gain sympathy, while others cause anger, but most voters look at different issues when casting their ballots.
Manish Sisodia and AAP leader Sanjay Singh also spent time in jail but were released on bail last year. Satyendar Jain, who was in jail for over 18 months for a money-related case, says that the elections are more about important issues rather than the accusations from the BJP.
AIMIM has also put forward candidates like Tahir Hussain and Shifa-ur Rehman, who are both under investigation for their alleged roles in the 2020 riots. They’ve been granted temporary release from jail to campaign.
The Delhi Assembly elections are on February 5, with results available on February 8. According to a report, about 19% of candidates in these elections have told that they have criminal cases against them. This is a slight drop from the 2020 elections, where 20% had similar issues. Around 12% of the candidates face serious charges that could lead to over five years in prison, down from 15% in the previous election.
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