Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other details of Winning Candidates in West Bengal Assembly Election 2026
Summary and Highlights
Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and West Bengal Election Watch have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 292 out of 293 winning candidates in the West Bengal 2026 Assembly Elections. Elections in Falta constituency have been cancelled. 1 BJP winning candidate namely Arjun Singh from Noapara constituency was not analysed due to an unclear affidavit uploaded on the ECI website at the time of making of this report..
Criminal Background
Winning Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of the 292 winning candidates analysed in 2026. 190 (65%) winning candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. Out of 292 MLAs analysed during West Bengal Assembly elections in 2021, 142 (49%) MLAs had declared criminal cases against themselves.
Winning Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 170 (58%) winning candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. Out of 292 MLAs analysed during West Bengal Assembly elections in 2021, 113 (39%) MLAs had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Winning Candidates with Declared Cases Related to Murder: 14 winning candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves.
Winning Candidates with Declared Cases Related to Attempt to Murder: 54 winning candidates have declared cases related to Attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) and (BNS Section-109) against themselves.
Winning Candidates with Declared Cases Related to Crime Against Women: 63 winning candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of 63 winning candidates, 2 winning candidates have declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376) and person committing rape repeatedly on the same woman (IPC Section- 376(2)(n)).
Party Wise Winning Candidates with Criminal Cases: 152 (74%) out of 206 winning candidates from BJP, 34 (43%) out of 80 winning candidates from AITC, 2 (100%) out of 2 winning candidates from Aam Janata Unnayan Party, 1 (100%) out of 1 winning candidate from CPI(M) and 1 (100%) out of 1 winning candidate from All India Secular Front have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. It is noted that the INC won 2 seats, and both winning candidates have clean backgrounds with zero criminal cases.
Party Wise Winning Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 141 (68%) out of 206 winning candidates from BJP, 25 (31%) out of 80 winning candidates from AITC, 2 (100%) out of 2 winning candidates from Aam Janata Unnayan Party, 1 (100%) out of 1 winning candidate from CPI(M) and 1 (100%) out of 1 winning candidate from All India Secular Front have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Financial Background
Crorepati Winning Candidates: Out of the 292 winning candidates analysed, 178 (61%) are crorepatis. Out of 292 MLAs analysed during West Bengal assembly elections 2021, 158 (54%) MLAs were crorepati.
Party-wise crorepati winning candidates: 114 (55%) out of 206 winning candidates from BJP, 59 (74%) out of 80 winning candidates from AITC, 2 (100%) out of 2 winning candidates from Aam Janata Unnayan Party, 2 (100%) out of 2 winning candidates from INC and 1 (100%) out of 1 winning candidate from CPI(M) have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore.
Total Assets of Winning Candidates: The total assets of 292 winning candidates are Rs. 1,091 Crores.
Average Assets: The average of assets per winning candidates in the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 is Rs 3.73 Crores. The average of assets per MLA in the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021 was Rs 2.53 crore.
Party Wise Average Assets: The average assets per winning candidate for 206 BJP winning candidates is Rs 2.97 Crores, 80 AITC winning candidates have average assets of Rs 5.36 Crores, 2 INC Winning candidates have average assets worth Rs 17.92 Crores and 2 Aam Janata Unnayan Party Winning candidates have average assets of Rs. 4.44 crore.
Other Background Details
Education Details of Winning Candidates: 92 (32%) winning candidates have declared their educational qualification between 5th pass and 12th pass while 185 (63%) winning candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate and above. 9 winning candidates are Diploma holders. 5 winning candidates have declared their education just literate and 1 winning candidate has declared herself as illiterate.
Age Details of Winning Candidates: 46 (16%) winning candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 40 years while 184 (63%) winning candidates have declared their age to be between 41 and 60 years. There are 59 (20%) winning candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years. There are 3 winning candidates who have declared their age to be above 80 years.
Gender Details of Winning Candidates: Out of 292 winning candidates analysed, 37 (13%) winning candidates are women. In 2021, out of 292 MLAs analysed, 40 (14%) MLAs were women.
Analysis of Assets Comparison of Re-Elected MLAs
- Number of Re-Elected MLAs:Number of re-elected MLAs analysed in the West Bengal assembly elections of 2026 is 102.
- Average Assets of Re-Elected MLAs in 2021: The average assets of re-elected MLAs in 2021 was Rs 2.39 crores.
- Average Assets of Re-Elected MLAs in 2026:The average assets of re-elected MLAs in 2026 is Rs 3.83 crores.
- Average Growth in Assets of Re-Elected MLAs from 2021 to 2026:The growth in average assets of re-elected MLAs is Rs 1.43 crores i.e. by 60%.