Even as 57 seats of Mithilanchal-Kosi-Seemanchal belt in Bihar get ready to vote in the fifth and final phase of Assembly elections, the number of criminal candidates in the fray refuses to come down.
Out of all the 827 candidates whose fate will be decided on November 5, 254 (31%) have declared criminal cases against themselves. No party can claim to be clean with seven (58%) out of the 23 Congress candidates, 21 (55%) out of 38 candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 13 (52%) out of 25 candidates fielded by Janata Dal United and 10 (50%) out of the 20 Rashtriya Janata Dal candidates (RJD) candidates declaring in their affidavits that they face criminal charges.
Out of all the 827 candidates whose fate will be decided on November 5, 254 (31%) have declared criminal cases against themselves.
The affidavits which have been studied by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) reveal that 11 (55%) out of 20 Communist Party of India (CPI) candidates, 16 (29%) out of 55 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidates, 12 (46%) out of 26 Samajwadi Party (SP) candidates, 21 (53%) out of 40 candidates of Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik), 12 (52%) out of 23 candidates of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)(Liberation), nine (69%) out of 13 candidates of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and 55 (21%) out of 262 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Party wise Candidates with serious criminal cases: 15 (39%) out of 38 candidates from BJP, 9 (45%) out of 20 candidates from CPI, 13 (24%) out of 55 candidates from BSP, 7 (28%) out of 25 candidates fielded by JD(U), 10 (38%) out of 26 candidates from SP, 6 (30%) out of 20 candidates of RJD, 3 (25%) out of 12 candidates fielded by INC, 17 (43%) out of 40 candidates of JAP(L), 8 (35%) out of 23 candidates of the CPI(ML)(L), 7 (54%) out of 13 candidates of CPI(M) and 43 (16%) out of 262 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Red Alert constituencies: 47 (82%) out of the total 57 constituencies in the fifth phase of Bihar assembly elections have 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases. Constituencies of Jhanjharpur, Kishanganj, Balrampur, Bisfi and Rupauli with 8 candidates have the highest number of candidates who have self-declared criminal cases against themselves. Red alert constituencies are those which have 3 or more candidates with criminal cases contesting elections.
Candidates with serious criminal cases: 193 (23%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping, crimes against women etc.
Candidates with cases related to murder: 15 candidates have declared cases related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302). Mahboob Alam of the (CPI (ML)(L)) from Balrampur constituency has declared 3 charges related to murder against himself. Laxmi Narayan Mehta of the BJP from Forbesganj constituency and Shankar Singh, an Independent candidate from Rupauli constituency, have each declared 2 charges related to murder in their respective affidavits. In total, 1 candidate of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), 1 of CPI (ML)(L),1 candidate of CPI, 2 fielded by (CPI(M)), 1 candidate of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), 3candidate of BSP, 2 candidate of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), 1 candidate fielded by Shiv Sena (SHS), and 3 Independent candidates have declared cases related to murder in their affidavits.
Candidates with cases related to attempt to murder: 48 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307). Chandan Singh ofLJP from Alamnagar constituency and Sanjay Paswan of Garib Janata Dal (Secular) from Harlakhi constituency have each declared 6 charges related to attempt to murder in his affidavit. Shankar Singh, an Independent candidate from Rupauli constituency, and Mahboob Alam of CPI (ML)(L) from Balrampur constituency have each declared 5 charges related to attempt to murder against themselves. In total, 6 candidates of BJP, 5 of CPI (ML)(L),2 candidates of JD(U), 1 candidates fielded by IUML, 2 candidate of the National Janata Party (Indian), 3 candidates of CPI, 2 candidates of CPI(M) , 2 candidates of SP, 1 candidate of LJP, 7 candidates fielded by JAP(L), 1 candidates of Garib Janata Dal (Secular), 1 fielded bySamras Samaj Party, 1 Shiv Sena candidate, 1 candidate of Janta Dal Rashtravadi, 5 candidate of BSP, 1 candidate of NCP, 1 candidate of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and 6 Independent candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder in their affidavits.
Candidates with cases related to crimes against women: 16 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. Gulab Yadav of theRashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) from Jhanjharpur constituency and Jahur Alam, also a candidate of RJD from Supaul constituency along with Sushil Mishra of CPI(ML)(L) from Jale constituency have each declared 1 charge relating to rape (IPC Section-376).
Candidates with cases related to causing communal disharmony: 3 candidates have declared cases relating to causing communal disharmony. Saba Zafar, a candidate fielded by BJP from Amour constituency and Ram Kumar Yadav of SP from Phulparas constituency have declared 1 charge each related topromoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (IPC Section-153A). Ashok Kumar Yadav of BJP from Keoti constituency has declared a charge related to injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class (IPC Section-295).
Candidates with cases related to robbery and dacoity: 7 candidates have declared cases related to robbery and dacoity. Hira Nand Mandal of Rashtriya Jankranti Party from Bahadurganj constituency has declared 3 offences related to robbery and dacoity, which include 1 charge related to making preparation to commit dacoity (IPC Section-399), 1 charge related to assembling for purpose of committing dacoity (IPC Section - 402) and 1 charge related to dacoity (IPC Section-395).
Candidates with cases related to kidnapping: 13 candidates have declared cases related to kidnapping. Purshottam Jha, an Independent candidate from Khajauli constituency, has disclosed 1 charge each related to kidnapping (IPC Section-363), kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person (IPC Section-365), kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc. (IPC Section-366) wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person (IPC Section-368) against himself. Shankar Singh, an Independent candidate from Rupauli constituency has declared 2 charges related to kidnapping for ransom, etc. (IPC Section-364A), 1 charge related kidnapping or abducting in order to murder (IPC Section-364) and 1 offence related to wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person (IPC Section-368).
