Patna, Nov 5: Voting for the fifth and final phase of the Bihar elections are underway and today ends a marathon polling exercise. While the winner will be declared on November 8th, let us take a look at the analysis of the candidates who have contested the polls in all the five phases.
Bihar Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all the 3450 candidates contesting in the Bihar assembly elections of 2015.
There are 158 political parties (including independents) fielding candidates in these elections. In the previous elections in 2010, there were 91 political parties (including independents) in the fray.
[Bihar: Know all about 5th phase polls]
There are 273 (8%) female candidates out of the total 3450 candidates contesting this year. In 2010, there were 307 (9%) female candidates out of 3523 candidates contesting the elections.
Candidates with criminal cases:
1038 (30%) out of 3450 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. During the previous assembly elections in Bihar in 2010, out of 3058 candidates analysed, 986 (32%) candidates had declared criminal cases against themselves.
Candidates with serious criminal cases:
796 (23%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping, crimes against women etc. In the assembly elections of 2010 in Bihar, 560 (18%) candidates out of the total 3058 candidates analysed, had declared serious criminal cases in their respective affidavits.
Party wise candidates with criminal cases:
95 (61%) out of 157 candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 58 (57 %) out of 101 candidates fielded by Janata Dal United (JD(U)), 61 (60%) out of 101 candidates of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), 23 (56%) out of 41 candidates fielded by Indian National Congress (INC) and 259 (23%) out of 1150 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Party wise Candidates with serious criminal cases:
62 (39%) out of 157 candidates from BJP, 41 (41%) out of 101 candidates fielded by JD (U), 47 (47%) out of 101 candidates of RJD, 12 (29%) out of 41 candidates fielded by INC and 212 (18%) out of 1150 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Candidates with cases related to murder and attempts to murder:
Out of the total 3450 candidates, 89 candidates have declared cases related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302), and 238 candidates have declared offence related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307).
While Ajay Kumar, an Independent candidate from Kumhrarh constituency has declared 8 charges related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302) in his affidavit, Visheshwar Ojha, a BJP candidate from Shahpur constituency has declared 10 charges related to of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against himself.
Candidates with cases related to crimes against women:
58 candidates contesting in the assembly elections of Bihar, 2015, have declared cases related to crimes against women. 8 out of these 58 candidates have each declared a case of rape (IPC Section- 376) against themselves.
Candidates with cases related to causing communal disharmony:
13 candidates have declared cases relating to causing communal disharmony in their respective affidavits. Pradeep Kumar Joshi, a Rashtra Sewa Dal candidate from Dehri constituency has declared 2 charges related to deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs (IPC Section-295A) and 1 charge related to promoting 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) against himself.
Candidates with cases related to robbery and dacoity:
43 candidates have declared cases related to robbery and dacoity. Gorakh Yadav, an Independent candidate from Baikunthpur constituency has declared 6 offences related to robbery and dacoity, which include 3 charges related to making preparation to commit dacoity (IPC Section-399) and 3 charges related to assembling for purpose of committing dacoity (IPC Section - 402).
Candidates with cases related to kidnapping:
50 candidates have declared cases related to kidnapping in the Bihar assembly elections. 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), 1 case related to kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to grievous hurt, slavery, etc. (IPC Section-367) and 1 offence related to wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person (IPC Section-368).
Red Alert constituencies: 196 (81 %) out of the total 243 constituencies in Bihar assembly elections have 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases. Constituencies of Aurangabad, Mokama, Riga, Mohiuddinnagar and Digha with 9 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.
Party wise crorepati candidates:
105 (67%) out of 157 candidates from BJP, 76 (75%) out of 101 candidates fielded by JD (U), 66 (65%) out of 101 candidates of RJD, 25 (61%) out of 41 candidates fielded by INC and 229 (20%) out of 1150 Independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore.
The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Bihar assembly elections of 2015 is Rs 1.44 crores.
Party wise average assets:
Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 157 BJP candidates is Rs 2.74 crores, 101 JD (U) candidates have average assets worth of Rs 2.70 crores, 41 INC candidates have average assets worth Rs 3.90 crores, 101 RJD candidates have average assets worth of Rs 3.25 crores and 1150 Independent candidates have average assets of Rs 1.83 crores.
Candidates with zero assets:
6 out of all the 3450 candidates have declared zero assets in their affidavits.
Low asset candidates: Out of all the 3450 candidates, 179 have declared assets less than Rs 1 lakh excluding the candidates with zero assets.
Candidates with high liabilities: 42 candidates have liabilities above Rs 1 crore.
