Of 583 contestants in first phase, 174 have criminal cases against them: report

The politics in Bihar continues to be scandalous as new data suggests that 30 percent (174 out of total 583) candidates have declared that they are facing criminal charges. The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and Communist Party of India (CPI) have topped the list of fielding most number of candidates with criminal backgrounds.

According to data compiled by an independent non-profit ADR, out of all the 583 candidates contesting in the first phase of Bihar polls, 174 (30%) candidates have declared criminal cases against them.

About 130 (22%) candidates are facing serious charges like murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping, and crimes against women.

The BJP, according to the ADR data, has 14 out of 27 candidates with criminal cases against them.

Ten cases are serious in nature. The CPI has 14 out of 25 candidates who are accused of various types of crimes.

Seven out of them are serious offences.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has 8 out of 41 candidates, 11 out of 24 candidates are fielded by the Janata Dal(United), 9 out of 18 candidates from the Samajwadi Party (SP), 8 out of 17 candidates of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), 6 out of 8 candidates fielded by the Indian National Congress, 8 out of 13 candidates of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) along with 8 out of 12 candidates of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and 45 (23%) out of 192 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Among the richest politicians contesting in the Bihar polls, the BJP again is at the front with 18 out of 27 candidates being dubbed “Crorepatis.” From the JD(U) there are 19 out of 24 cash rich candidates, 11 out of 17 candidates are from the RJD, 6 out of 18 candidates belong to the SP, 6 out of 8 candidates of the Congress, 8 out of 13 candidates of the LJP, 3out of 41 candidates of the BSP and 42 out of 192 independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore. The election is once again going to be male dominated with 530 men and just 53 women participating in it.