Some candidates contested from prison

In India a study by an independent watchdog has revealed that almost one quarter of the over five hundred and forty people elected to the national parliament this year face criminal charges ranging from murder to extortion. This report from Sanjeev Srivastava

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The report says that lawmakers from all parties faced criminal charges ranging from murder, extortion, kidnapping and rape.

Though the independent study only confirms what many Indians already knew, the extent to which national politics seems to have been hijacked by people facing criminal charges has shocked even seasoned analysts.

The findings of the report have coincided with another decision of the Indian government which has been criticised by those concerned about probity in public life. On Wednesday, the Indian cabinet deferred a long pending anti-corruption legislation aimed at bringing the country's top most public officers within the ambit of an ombudsman.

Sanjeev Srivastava, BBC News, Delhi

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campaigning for cleaner politics
carrying out activities to promote honesty and truth in politics (to make them cleaner)

affidavits
written statements that you say very firmly are true and which can be used in court as evidence

filed
here, if you file something you officially give it in

transparency
here, openness – people should be able to find out what politicians are doing and what their connections are

public life
here, the working life of officials elected by people (the public)

lawmakers
the people in Government who make the rules (laws) of a country

extortion
the crime of obtaining something from someone (particularly money) by using force

seasoned
very experienced

probity
a high standard of honest and moral behaviour

ambit
the range or extent of the authority of something

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