Candidates with Criminal Cases
Out of 1303 candidates analyzed, 423 (32%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. 354 (27%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
33 candidates have declared cases of to murder (IPC Section-302, 303) and (BNS Section-103(1)).
86 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) and (BNS Section-109).
42 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. Out of 42 candidates, 2 candidates have declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376).
50(44%) out of 114 candidates analysed from Jan Suraaj Party, 18(20%) out of 89 candidates analysed from BSP, 53 (76%) out of 70 candidates analysed from RJD, 22 (39%) out of 57 candidates analysed from JD(U), 31(65%) out of 48 candidates analysed from BJP, 12(27%) out of 44 candidates analysed from AAP, 15(65%) out of 23 candidates analysed from INC, 13 (93%) out of 14 candidates analysed from CPI(ML)(L), 7(54%) out of 13 candidates analysed from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), 5(100%) out of 5 candidates analysed from CPI and 3 (100%) out of 3 candidates analysed from CPI(M) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Among the major parties,49(43%) out of 114 candidates analysed from Jan Suraaj Party, 16(18%) out of 89 candidates analysed from BSP, 42 (60%) out of 70 candidates analysed from RJD, 15 (26%) out of 57 candidates analysed from JD(U),27(56%) out of 48 candidates analysed from BJP, 9(20%) out of 44 candidates analysed from AAP, 12(52%) out of 23 candidates analysed from INC, 9(64%) out of 14 candidates analysed from CPI(ML)(L), 5(38%) out of 13 candidates analysed from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), 4(80%) out of 5 candidates analysed from CPI and 3 (100%) out of 3 candidates analysed from CPI(M) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
91(75%) out of 121 constituencies are red alert constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 Phase I as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 32% candidates with criminal cases. All major parties contesting in Bihar Elections Phase 1 have given tickets from 20 % to 100 % candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. The Supreme Court in its directions dated 13th February, 2020 had specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates. According to these mandatory guidelines, the reasons for such selection has to be with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned.
During the recent Delhi Assembly elections held in february 2025, it was observed that political parties gave unfounded and baseless reasons like popularity of the person, does good social work, cases are politically motivated etc. These are not sound and cogent reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds. This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers.
Crorepati Candidates
Out of the 1303 candidates, 519 (40%) are crorepatis.
Party wise Crorepati Candidates: All major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates. Among the major parties 81(71%) out of 114 candidates analysed from Jan Suraaj Party, 68(97%) out of 70 candidates analysed from RJD, 52(91%) out of 57 candidates analysed from JD(U), 44(92%) out of 48 candidates analysed from BJP, 27(30%) out of 89 candidates analysed from BSP, 18(78%) out of 23 candidates analysed from INC, 13(30%) out of 44 candidates analysed from AAP, 10(77%) out of 13 candidates analysed from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), 3(60%) out of 5 candidates analysed from CPI, 2(67%) out of 3 candidates analysed from CPI(M) and 2(14%) out of 14 candidates analysed from CPI(ML)(L) have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.
The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 Phase I is Rs 3.26 Crore.
Party wise average assets
Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 114 Jan Suraaj Party candidates analysed is Rs. 5.72 Crores, 89 BSP candidates analysed is Rs 1.77 Crore, 70 RJD candidates have average assets of Rs 10.37 Crores, 57 JD(U) candidates have average assets of Rs 8.75 Crores, 48 BJP candidates have average assets of Rs 11.30 Crores, 44 AAP candidates have average assets of Rs 1.57 Crore, 23 INC candidates have average assets of Rs 5.85 Crores, 14 CPI(ML)(L) candidates have average assets of Rs 81.57 Lakhs, 13 Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) candidates have average assets of Rs 10.88 Crores, 5 CPI candidates have average assets of Rs 4.83 Crores and 3 CPI(M) candidates have average assets worth Rs. 1.73 Crore.
High asset candidates
Kumar Pranay, a BJP candidate from Munger, Raj Kishor Gupta, an independent candidate from Maharajganj, Siwan and Anant Kumar Singh, the JD(U) from Mokama, Patna are the three candidates with highest declared assets.
Low asset candidates
Mojahid Alam, a SUCI(C) candidate from Darbhanga, Shatrudhan Varma, a Peoples Party of India (Democratic) candidate from Barh and Shiv Kumar Yadav, a SUCI(C) candidate from Minapur, Muzaffarpur are the candidates with declared lowest assets.
Education details of candidates
519 (40%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard while 651(50%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. 19 candidates are Diploma holders. 105 candidates have declared themselves to be just literate and 8 candidates are Illiterates. 1 candidate has not given his educational details in the affidavit.
Age of candidates
463(36%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years while 669 (51%) candidates have declared their age to be between 41 to 60 years. There are 169(13%) candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years. There are 2 candidates who have declared their age to be above 80 years.
Gender details of candidates
Only 121 (9%) female candidates are contesting in the Bihar assembly election 2025 Phase I.
ADR's Recommendations
To remedy the existing problem of criminalization is to immediately act upon the plausible solutions offered by various committees, civil society and citizens. The Supreme Court of India being the ultimate custodian of “Justice and Rule of Law” should reprimand political parties and politicians for their complete lack of will, reprehensible predilection and absence of required laws.
Permanent disqualification of candidates convicted for heinous crimes like murder, rape, smuggling, dacoity, kidnapping etc.
Disqualification of persons from contesting elections to the public offices against whom charges have been framed for having committed serious criminal offences punishable by imprisonment of at least 5 years, and the case is filed at least 6 months prior to the election in question.
Cancellation of tax exemptions given to the political parties who field such tainted candidates.
Bringing political parties under the Right to Information Act.
De-register and de-recognise any political party if it knowingly puts up a candidate with a tainted background.
Political parties should annually file the information on criminal antecedents of their Office Bearers and make such records available to the public, including NIL records.
Disqualification of candidates furnishing false information in the election affidavit (Form 26).
Ensure trial of cases in which the politicians are accused to be concluded in a time bound manner.
Implementation of SC judgment dated 23rd September, 2013 (i.e provision of NOTA buttons on the EVMs) in its letter and spirit by ensuring a) if NOTA gets more votes than any of the candidates, none of the candidates should be declared elected, and a fresh election should be held; b) in the fresh election, none of the candidates in the earlier election, in which NOTA got the highest number of votes, should be allowed to contest.
Implementation of the 25th September, 2018 and 13th February, 2020 SC orders on 'publication of criminal cases against candidates selected by political parties along with reasons for such selection' in its letter and spirit by directing the Election Commission of India a) to list out names of such tainted candidates selected by the political parties along with such reasons for such selection C8 including diligent publication of reasons in newspapers, T.V channels, party website etc, b) strict and constant reminders by ROs to the defaulters, c) list needs to be religiously prepared and submitted to the Supreme Court after every election, d) uploading of this list on ECI’s website for public inspection, e) a suitably heavy financial penalty levied on political parties for making insufficient disclosures, invalid and common reasons, selection of candidates based on winnability and f) Officer in-charge of a political party pertaining to submission of a compliance report should also be held accountable for such a breach.
The Election Commission of India and all State Election Commissions should make it mandatory in all elections; Parliamentary, Assembly and Local Body elections to carry display boards outside each and every polling booth showing a summarised version of candidates’ affidavits. The polling booths should essentially display details of candidate’s criminal records, assets and liabilities and education qualification.
The Election Commission of India under its ‘Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation’ (SVEEP) as well as through other national campaigns on voter awareness held before every election should inform and aware the voters that (i) taking and giving cash or gifts/freebies for votes is a criminal offense, (ii) such instances should be brought to the notice of the ECI through its web application, (iii) inform voters that information on criminal records of candidates is available on the ECI website, outside polling booths and other sources that the ECI may use.
Political parties in India should be required to announce/publish the list of candidates contesting elections at least 3 months prior to elections.
Role of money and muscle power is evident from the fact that all major political parties in Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 Phase I have fielded 14% to 97% candidates who are crorepatis and 18% to 100 % candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. This close and alarming nexus between money power and muscle power has got so ingrained in our electoral system that the citizens are left hostage to the current situation. Money and muscle power hurt the principles of 'free and fair elections', 'participatory democracy' and 'level playing field'. The present circumstances therefore demand an extensive deliberation by the voters so that sanctity of elections is not ridiculed by tenacious entry of tainted candidates and candidates with abnormal multiplication of assets.
For full reports in English and Hindi visit: https://adrindia.org/content/Bihar-Candidates-Report-Phase-I-2025
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