The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in the selection of candidates in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 23% candidates with criminal cases. 

All major parties contesting in Himachal Pradesh elections have given tickets to 18% to 64% candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. 

In the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh, out of 412 candidates analyzed, 94 (23%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. In 2017 assembly elections, out of 338 candidates analysed, 61 (18%) had declared criminal cases against themselves. 

In 2017 assembly elections, 31 (9%) candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves while this time 50 (12%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. 

Out of 412 candidates analysed, 201 are from national parties, 67 are from state parties, 45 are from registered unrecognized parties and 99 candidates are contesting independently. 

Analysis of affidavits of candidates has revealed that 5 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women while 2 candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves while 3 candidates have declared cases related to Attempt to murder(IPC Section-307) against themselves. 

The Himachal Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 412 candidates who are contesting in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections. It has been found that 9 (13%) out of 68 constituencies are Red alert constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. 

As per the data compiled, among the major parties, 7 (64%) out of 11 candidates analysed from CPM, 36 (53%) out of 68 candidates analysed from Congress, 12 (18%) out of 68 candidates analysed from BJP, 12 (18%) out of 67 candidates analysed from AAP and 2 (4%) out of 53 candidates analysed from BSP have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. 

Among the major parties, 5 (46%) out of 11 candidates analysed from CPM, 17 (25%) out of 68 candidates analysed from Congress, 6 (9%) out of 68 candidates analysed from BJP, 6 (9%) out of 67 candidates analysed from AAP and 1 (2%) out of 53 candidates analysed from BSP have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.