Dimming the euphoria over the JD (U) and BJP combine sweeping the Bihar assembly election, a new report says that the number of candidates with criminal cases filed againt them and crorepatis has increased in the 2010 assembly elections. Leading the list of fielding maximum number of MLAs who have criminal cases pending against them is JD (U).

“141 newly elected MLAs (59 percent) have pending criminal cases against them while 47 MLAs (20 percent) analysed are crorepatis,” according to the report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW), who have been working on electoral reforms, improving democracy and governance in India.

“In 2005, 117 (35 percent) MLAs had pending criminal cases, while eight MLAs were crorepatis,” the report said.

The report also mentioned that 85 MLAs are facing serious IPC charges like murder and attempt to murder charges against them. The report is based on the MLAs sworn affidavits to the election commission.

The ruling party JD (U) and BJP combine have 116 MLAs who face pending criminal cases and 72 out of them has serious criminal cases pending against them.

13 MLAs who face pending criminal cases have won from RJD ticket. 

Pradip Kumar who won from Warsaliganj constituency from JD (U) has 10 charges related to murder (IPC section - 302). The report also says Narendra Kumar Pandey (alias Sunil Pandey) has 23 pending cases out of which four are related to murder (IPC section - 302).

Faiyaj Ahmad of RJD from Bisfi constituency is the richest candidate with the assets declared RS. 15.83 crores followed by Suresh Kumar Sharma from BJP of Muzaffarpur with 8.27 crores.

According to the report, “Seventy-six MLAs analysed (32 percent) have not declared their PAN card details.”

Read the report