Bihar phase 2 polls: 502 candidates have criminal cases, RJD tops list

The report was released by the Bihar Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) after analysing the self-sworn affidavits of all the 1,463 candidates contesting in the Bihar Assembly Elections Phase II.

The second phase of the polls is scheduled in 94 Assembly constituencies in 17 districts on November 3.

The report said that out of the 1,463 candidates analyzed, 502, which is 34 per cent, candidates have declared criminal cases against them. "While 389 candidates, which is 27 per cent of 1,463 candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves," the report said.

The report also claimed that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has the maximum candidates with criminal cases registered against them followed by the BJP.

It said, "Out of 56 RJD candidates, 36, which is 64 per cent, candidates have criminal cases against them, followed by the BJP with 29 out of 46 candidates which is 63 per cent."

The report pointed out that out of the 24 Congress candidates, 14 have criminal cases against them which is 58 per cent, and out of 52 Lok Jan Shakti Party candidates 28, which is 54 per cent, also have criminal cases.

The report pointed out that the ruling Janata Dal- United (JD-U) has the least number of candidates with criminal cases.

"Out of 33 candidates in the second phase, 16, which is 49 per cent candidates from the BSP have criminal cases and from the JD-U, 20 out of 43 candidates, which is 47 per cent have declared criminal cases against them in their affidavits," the report said.

The RJD again topped in the serious crime cases registered against candidates with 50 per cent, followed by the LJP with 46 per cent, the BJP with 44 per cent and the JD-U again at the bottom of the table with 35 per cent.

The report said that out of the 50 candidates of the RJD, who were analysed, 28 have serious cases registered against them followed by the LJP with 24 out of 52 candidates, and 20 out of the 46 BJP candidates have serious cases against them.

The report said that 14 out of the 33 candidates of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), 10 out of 24 candidates of the Congress and 15 out of 43 candidates of the JD-U have serious criminal cases against them.

It said that 49 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women, with four of them facing charges of rape.

The report noted that 32 candidates are facing cases related to murder while 143 candidates are facing cases related to attempt to murder.

It also said that in the second phase Assembly polls, 84 out of the 94 constituencies are red alert ones, which is a total of 89 per cent.

According to the ADR, red alert constituencies are those where three or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases registered against them.

The report said that the directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in the selection of the candidates in Bihar as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 34 per cent candidates with criminal cases.

It said all major parties contesting in Bihar second phase elections have given tickets to 47 per cent to 64 per cent candidates, who have declared criminal cases against them.

It said the Supreme Court in its directions dated February 13 had specifically instructed the political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates.

As per these mandatory guidelines, the candidates have to be selected with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit.