In the run up to the Bihar elections, independent organisations – Bihar Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) – have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 583 candidates contesting in the first phase of the upcoming assembly polls.

As per their analysis, 30 percent or 174 of the 583 candidates have criminal cases registered against them, while 25 percent or 146 candidates are crorepatis.

Of the 174 candidates having criminal background, 130 of them are accused of serious crime including murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping and crime against women. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and CPI lead the pack with their 14 candidates each having criminal cases registered against them. The JD(U) has 11 candidates with criminal background while SP has nine. RJD, BSP, CPI(M) and LJP each have eight candidates with criminal background. The INC has six candidates while 45 of the 192 independent candidates have criminal cases against them. In the first phase of polls, 37 constituencies have been declared as red alert constituencies – those having three or more candidates contesting the elections with declared criminal cases against them.

Out of 146 crorepatis, 19 represent JD(U). BJP has 18 crorepati candidates while RJD has 11. Eight candidates of LJP are crorepatis while SP and INC have six candidates each having declared assets of more than Rs 1 crore. BSP has three crorepati candidates while 42 independent candidates are crorepatis. The average of assets per candidate, in the first phase of Bihar elections, is Rs 1.44 crore. Also, a total of eight candidates have declared liabilities of Rs 1 crore and above.