As many as 143 MLAs of the 243-seat new Bihar Assembly face criminal charges, according to a report by data journalism website IndiaSpend. Out of affidavits filed by 3,450 candidates for the 243-seat assembly, 1,038, or 30% of them, had declared criminal charges. As many as 796, or 23% of the candidates, had declared serious criminal cases lodged against them, including murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping and crimes against women. The data had been compiled by the Association for Democratic Reforms.

Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal, which emerged as the largest single party in the Bihar assembly with 80 seats, has 49 MLAs with criminal cases pending against them. The Janata Dal (United), which was RJD's partner in the Bihar elections, has 37 MLAs with criminal antecedents. Ninety-five out of 157 candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party who stood for the elections had criminal cases pending against them.

The average assets per candidate who contested the Bihar assembly elections is Rs 1.44 crore, the report revealed.