In an indication of the scale of criminalisation of politics in Bihar, an analysis of lawmakers and candidates in Bihar since 2005 shows that 57 per cent of serving MPs and MLAs and 30 per cent of the candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
The Association for Democratic Reforms and Bihar Election Watch analysed the information with regard to financial records and criminal cases of MPs and MLAs and candidates as provided by them in their election affidavits. The analysis found that 469 out of 820 lawmakers or 57 per cent, and 3,230 out of 1,0785 candidates, or 30 per cent, have declared criminal cases against themselves.
As many as 295 or 36 per cent of the MPs and MLAs have serious criminal cases against themselves, and so do 2,204 or 20 per cent of the candidates.
A total of 10,785 candidates who have contested either Parliamentary or state Assembly elections and 820 MPs and MLAs from Bihar elected since 2005 were analysed.
It was also found that the average assets of the candidates is Rs 1.09 crore, and that of the MPs and MLAs is Rs 2.25 crore.
The ADR stated that the analysis of the data reveals that money and muscle power have a large bearing on the outcome of the election results.
A party-wise study showed that the BJP fielded maximum candidates with criminal cases—252, or 59 per cent, out of 426 candidates. The RJD fielded the second-highest number of candidates with criminal cases—280 out of 502, or 56 per cent. A total of 234, or 52 per cent, of the 454 candidates belonging to the JD(U) had cases against them. As many as 155 out of 330 of the LJP's candidates, or 47 per cent, and 43 per cent or 170 out of 394 of the Congress candidates have criminal cases pending against them.
As regards serious criminal cases, the BJP, the RJD and the JD(U) have fielded the same proportion of candidates with criminal antecedents—35 per cent. As many as 98 out of 330 LJP candidates, or 30 per cent, and 95 out of 394 candidates of the Congress, or 24 per cent, have serious criminal cases against themselves.
A high 71 per cent out of the 21 independent MPs and MLAs have criminal cases declared against themselves. As much as 70 per cent of the 27 LJP lawmakers were named in criminal cases. As many as 154, or 63 per cent, of the 246 MPs and MLAs elected on BJP tickets have declared criminal cases against themselves, followed by the RJD with 89 out of 158 MPs and MLAs, or 56 per cent.
As many as 25 out of 46 MPs and MLAs (54 per cent) elected on Congress tickets, and 149 out of 296, or 50 per cent, of the JD(U)'s legislators have criminal cases pending.
As regards serious criminal cases, the LJP was on top of the chart with 11 out of 27 MPs and MLAs, or 41 per cent. A total of 62, or 39 per cent, of the 158 MPs and MLAs belonging to the RJD are named in serious criminal cases. As many as eight out of 21 independent lawmakers, or 38 per cent, of them have serious criminal cases pending.
As many as 17, or 37 per cent, of the 46 MPs and MLAs elected on Congress tickets were named in serious criminal cases. As much as 34 per cent of the lawmakers belonging to the BJP (84 out of 246) and the JD(U) (101 out of 296) were named in such cases.