India, Sept. 4 -- In what aptly describes the state of Indian politics, an analysis of self-declared affidavits reveals that of 643 ministers analysed, as many as 302 (47%) ministers have declared criminal cases against themselves. Of them a large number-174 or 27% of them-have serious criminal cases including related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women etc according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW).

The information has been culled out of the self-sworn affidavits of current ministers by the ADR and NEW from state assemblies, union territories and the Union Council of Ministers. 643 out of 652 Ministers have been analysed across 27 State Assemblies, 3 Union Terri...