NEW DELHI: Tuesday's elected leaders in Delhi are younger, more educated and with cleaner backgrounds than their predecessors, according to available data.
The 70 elected representatives of Delhi's Legislative Assembly reflect a "welcome change" in Indian politics, according to data analysed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a think tank comprising professors from Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad.
About 70 percent—49 of the 70 MLAs—are below the age of 50 years this time. This is markedly different from previous elections, where 40-59 percent of Delhi leaders were above 50 years of age (2013 and 2008).
More than half (43, which is about 61 percent) of the Delhi leaders are graduates or with more advanced degrees. This number was lower in the last couple of elections—36 in 2013, and 37 in 2008.
At least 20 of the new Delhi MLAs are post graduates, seven are graduate professionals, and 16 others are graduates.
Delhi also voted against candidates with criminal backgrounds, rejecting 91 of the 673 contestants, most of whom had serious criminal charges against them. These include 21 Congress candidates, 26 from BJP, 12 from BSP, and one from AAP who have been implicated in cases of murder, attempted murder, and crimes against women. This is a "welcome change, and unusual compared to the rest of the country," according to the ADR report.
The 24 elected representatives in Delhi who have criminal cases against them have been charged with less serious offences like voluntarily causing harm, disobedience, unlawful assembly, etc.