Bihar polls: 174 candidates have criminal cases

NewsGram Staff Writer

New Delhi: With Bihar polls knocking at the door, Bihar Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 583 candidates who are contesting in the first phase of Bihar assembly elections, 2015.

The report published on Saturday revealed several intriguing facts besides raising a few eye-brows. The report claimed that out of all the 583 candidates in Bihar polls fray, 174 (30%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. It further said that 130 (22%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves such as cases related to murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping, crimes against women etc.

A total of 16 candidates have declared cases related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302). Pradeep Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) from Warsaliganj constituency has declared 4 charges related to murder while rest of the candidates face one charge each. 7 Independent candidates have declared cases related to murder.

The ADR report said that 37 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307). Ramswarup Yadav, an independent candidate from Hisua constituency faces 5 charges related to attempt to murder. One candidate fielded by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), one by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), three by JD-U, one by Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) (JAP(L)) and an independent candidate have each declared 2 charges related to attempt to murder.

The report noted that 11 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. Nityanand Kumar, an independent candidate from Suryagarha constituency and Rajiiv Nayak, an Independent candidate from Jamalpur constituency have each declared one charge related to rape (IPC Section-376) against them. Suman Kumar Singh, an Independent candidate from Kahalgaon constituency has declared an offense of dowry death (IPC Section-304B).

Two candidates declared cases relating to causing communal disharmony. Shakuni Choudhary of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) from Tarapur constituency has declared a case related to injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any

class (IPC Section-295). Rambalak Singh of JD(U) from Bibhutipur constituency has declared a case 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).

Five candidates declared cases related to robbery and dacoity. Ram Lakhan Singh of BJP from Teghra constituency has declared one charge each related to making preparation to commit dacoity (IPC Section-399) and assembling for purpose of committing dacoity (IPC Section – 402). Baiju Kumar Rai, an independent candidate, from Ujiarpur constituency has declared one charge each related to dacoity (IPC Section-395), making preparation to commit dacoity (IPC Section-399) and voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery (IPC Section – 394).

A total of nine candidates have declared cases related to kidnapping. Five candidates declared offense related to kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person (IPC Section-365) and four candidates declared offense related to kidnapping or abducting in order to murder (IPC Section-364). Five candidates declared more than one charge related to kidnapping against themselves.

The report also listed party wise candidates with criminal cases. It revealed, 14 (52%) out of 27 candidates from BJP, 14 (56%) out of 25 candidates from Communist Party of India (CPI), 8 (20%) out of 41 candidates from BSP, 11 (46%) out of 24 candidates fielded by JD(U), 9 (50%) out of 18 candidates from Samajwadi Party (SP), 8 (47%) out of 17 candidates of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), 6 (75%) out of 8 candidates fielded by Indian National Congress (INC), 8 (62%) out of 13 candidates of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) along with 8 (67%) out of 12 candidates of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and 45 (23%) out of 192 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Report on party wise candidates contesting Bihar polls with serious criminal cases mentioned that 10 (37%) out of 27 candidates from BJP, 7 (28%) out of 25 candidates from CPI, 6 (15%) out of 41 candidates from BSP, 9 (38%) out of 24 candidates fielded by JD(U), 7 (39%) out of 18 candidates from SP, 6 (35%) out of 17 candidates of RJD, 4 (50%) out of 8 candidates fielded by INC, 6 (46%) out of 13 candidates of LJP along with 5 (42%) out of 12 candidates of the CPI(M) and 38 (20%) out of 192 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

37 constituencies in the first phase of Bihar assembly elections have been declared as red alert constituencies.

Out of the 583 candidates, 146 (25%) are crorepatis, the report said. 18 (67%) out of 27 fielded by BJP, 19 (79%) out of 24 candidates from JD(U), 11 (65%) out of 17 candidates from RJD, 6 (33%) out of 18 candidates fielded by SP, 6 (75%) out of 8 candidates of INC, 8 (62%) out of 13 candidates of LJP, 3(7%) out of 41 candidates of BSP and 42 (22%) out of 192 independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore.

The average assets per candidate contesting in the first phase of Bihar assembly elections is Rs. 1.44 crores.

Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 27 BJP candidates is Rs 2.15 crores, 41 BSP candidates have average assets of Rs 1.63 crores, 24 JD(U) candidates have average assets worth of Rs 4.63 crores, 8 INC candidates have average assets worth Rs 8 crores, 17 RJD candidates have average assets worth of Rs 4.08 crores, the average assets per candidate for 18 SP candidates is Rs 78.27 lakhs, 13 LJP candidates have average assets of Rs 2.7 crores and 192 Independent candidates have average assets of Rs. 1.23 crores.