Criminal cases pending against 68% MLA-elects in Bihar, says ADR

According to a report by poll rights group ADR (Association for Democratic Reforms), 68% of the winning candidates in the Bihar assembly elections have criminal cases lodged against them.

Out of the 241 winning candidates’ affidavits analysed, 163 or 68% candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves and 123 or 51% winning candidates have declared serious criminal cases, including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women etc, the report said.

Out of 243 MLAs analysed during Bihar assembly elections in 2015, 142 or 58% MLAs had declared criminal cases against themselves, it said.

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The report said that nine winning candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section 302) against themselves, 31 winning candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section 307) and eight winning candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women.

Among the major parties, 54 (73%) out of 74 winning candidates from RJD, 47 (64%) out of 73 winning candidates from BJP, 20(47%) out of 43 winning candidates from JD(U), 16 (84%) out of 19 winning candidates from the Congress, 10 (83%) out of 12 winning candidates from CPI(ML)(L) and 5 (100%) out of 5 winning candidates from AIMIM have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits, it said.

It added, 44 (60%) out of 74 winning candidates from the RJD, 35(48%) out of 73 winning candidates from the BJP, 11 (26%) out of 43 winning candidates from the JD(U), 11 (58%) out of 19 winning candidates from the Congress, 8 (67%) out of 12 winning candidates from the CPI(ML)(L) and 5 (100%) out of 5 winning candidates from the AIMIM have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

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Also, the report gave financial details of the winning candidates. Out of the 241 winning candidates analysed, 194 (81%) are crorepatis. Out of 243 MLAs analysed during Bihar assembly elections 2015, 162 (67%) MLAs were crorepatis, it said.

Among the major parties, 65 (89%) out of 73 from BJP, 64 (87%) out of 74 from RJD, 38 (88%) out of 43 from JD(U) and 14 (74%) out of 19 from the Congress winning candidates have declared assets worth more than ₹1 crore, ADR added.