Bihar Assembly Elections: High Criminality Among Candidates Revealed

A recent study highlights that 32% of candidates in Bihar's upcoming Assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves, with a significant portion facing serious charges. The analysis also reveals a concerning trend of wealth among candidates, with 43% possessing assets over Rs 1 crore. As the elections approach, calls for electoral reform intensify, urging the Supreme Court to take action against political parties that fail to address the issue of criminalization in politics. This report sheds light on the pressing need for transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 4, 2025, 20:14 IST

Criminal Records Among Candidates

A recent analysis conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms and the National Election Watch indicates that 32% of candidates participating in the second phase of Bihar's Assembly elections have reported criminal charges against themselves.

Out of those with declared criminal records, 341 candidates, representing 26%, are facing serious charges, including murder and offenses against women, according to the election monitoring organizations.

Serious criminal cases are defined as those carrying a potential sentence of five years or more, encompassing non-bailable offenses, electoral violations, and severe crimes such as assault, kidnapping, and rape.

The Assembly elections are scheduled for November 6 and November 11, with vote counting set for November 14.

The analysis reviewed the self-reported affidavits of 1,297 candidates from a total of 1,302 contesting in this election phase.

Among the prominent political parties, 68% of Congress candidates, 57% from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 54% from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, and 32% from the Janata Dal (United) have disclosed criminal cases.

Additionally, 50% of candidates from Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party reported criminal charges.

Notably, 83% of candidates from the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation and 60% from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) also declared such cases.

Wealth and Educational Background of Candidates

The study further explored the increasing role of wealth in elections, revealing that 43% of the 1,302 candidates analyzed possess assets exceeding Rs 1 crore.

Among the major parties, the Lok Janshakti Party leads with 100% of its candidates being crorepatis, followed closely by the JD(U) at 91%, RJD and Congress at 84%, and BJP at 83%.

In terms of educational qualifications, 41% of candidates reported having completed education between Class 5 and Class 12, while 48% claimed to hold a graduate degree or higher.

Only 15 candidates have diplomas, with 117 declaring themselves literate and nine identified as illiterate.

Furthermore, women constitute a mere 10% of the candidates contesting in this election phase.

Recommendations for Electoral Reform

The Association for Democratic Reforms and the National Election Watch emphasized the urgent need for reforms to address the issue of criminalization in politics. They urged immediate action based on recommendations from various committees and civil society.

They called on the Supreme Court of India to hold political parties accountable for their negligence and lack of legislative action.

The watchdogs proposed a permanent disqualification for candidates convicted of serious crimes, including murder and rape, and suggested that individuals charged with serious offenses should be barred from contesting elections if the charges are filed at least six months before the election.

Additionally, they recommended revoking tax exemptions for political parties that nominate candidates with criminal backgrounds and advocated for all parties to be subject to the Right to Information Act. They also suggested de-registering any party that knowingly fields a candidate with a criminal history.