A detailed report from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch indicates that a concerning trend is emerging in the Bihar assembly elections. According to the findings, approximately one-third of the candidates participating in the first phase of polling have declared criminal cases against themselves. This analysis, based on self-sworn affidavits, covers 1,303 out of 1,314 candidates across 121 constituencies set to vote on November 6.
The report highlights that out of the 1,303 candidates examined, a notable 423 (32%) have disclosed existing criminal cases. More alarmingly, 354 candidates (27%) are facing severe charges, which include offenses such as murder, attempted murder, and crimes against women. The report further specifies that 33 candidates have murder charges, 86 face attempt-to-murder charges, and 42 are accused of crimes against women, with two of them charged with rape.
A breakdown by political parties reveals varying degrees of involvement. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leads with 76% of its 70 candidates declaring criminal cases, 60% of whom face serious charges. The Congress follows with 65% of its 23 candidates having declared criminal cases, 52% of which are serious offenses. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 65% of its 48 candidates with criminal charges, 56% of which are serious. Its ally, the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), has 39% of its 57 candidates with criminal cases, 26% of which are serious. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has 54% of its 13 candidates with criminal cases.
Among the left parties, the CPI(ML) Liberation has a staggering 93% of its 14 candidates facing criminal cases, with 64% charged with serious offenses. The CPI and CPI(M) reported 100% of their candidates facing criminal cases, with 80% and 100% respectively facing serious charges. The Jan Suraaj Party, a new entrant, has 44% of its 114 candidates with criminal cases, 43% of which are serious.
The report also designated 75% of the 121 constituencies going to polls in the first phase as “red alert constituencies,” indicating a high prevalence of candidates with declared criminal cases. Beyond criminal records, the report also shed light on the financial standing and demographics of the candidates. Approximately 40% of all candidates are millionaires, with an average asset value of ₹3.26 crore. The BJP leads in wealth among major parties, with its candidates averaging ₹11.30 crore in assets.
In terms of education, 40% of candidates have not completed high school. The age distribution shows that 51% are between 41-60 years old, while only 9% of the total contestants are women.
The election process in Bihar continues with the second phase of polling scheduled for November 11, and the results will be announced on November 14.