Bihar Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analyzed the self-sworn affidavits of all 456 candidates who are contesting in the second phase of Bihar assembly elections, 2015.The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) was established in 1999 by a group of professors from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. In 1999, Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by them with Delhi High Court asking for the disclosure of the criminal, financial and educational background of the candidates contesting elections. Based on this, the Supreme Court in 2002, and subsequently in 2003, made it mandatory for all candidates contesting elections to disclose criminal, financial and educational background prior to the polls by filing an affidavit with the Election Commission. We give the salient points of the report released today.

Highlights of the Analysis

· Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of all the 456 candidates, 142 (31%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

· Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 110 (24%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping, crimes against women etc.

· Candidates with cases related to murder: 11 candidates have declared cases related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302). Ramendra Ram of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) fromChenari (SC) constituency has declared 2 charges related to murder while rest of the candidates face one charge each. 2 candidates of Garib Janata (Secular), 1 of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (CPI (ML)(L)), 1 candidate fielded by Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, 1 by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and 5 Independent candidates have declared cases related tomurder in their affidavits.

· Candidates with cases related to Attempt to Murder: 36 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307). Munna Ram, a CPI (ML)(L) candidate from Mohaniaconstituency faces 4 charges related to attempt to murder. Ramendra Ram of the BSP fromChenari (SC) constituency and Prabhat Kumar Ranjan of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)from Ghosi constituency have declared 3 charges related to attempt to murder. While CPI (ML)(L)fielded 4 candidates facing charges related to attempt to murder, BSP fielded 3. 12 Independentcandidates have each declared charges related to attempt to murder.

· Candidates with cases related to Crimes against Women: 6 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. 1 candidate fielded by BSP, 1 by RJD, 1 by Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha and 1 Independent candidate have each declared offence related to assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty (IPC Section-354).

· Candidates with cases related to causing Communal Disharmony: 2 candidates have declared cases relating to causing communal disharmony. Pradeep Kumar Joshi of Rashtra Sewa Dal from Dheri 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 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). Vikas Singh, an Independent candidate fromBhabua constituency has declared 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) and 1 charge related to injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class (IPC Section-295).

· Candidates with cases related to Robbery and Dacoity: 4 candidates have declared cases related to robbery and dacoity. Naresh Kumar Bharti, an Independent candidate from Bodh Gaya (SC) constituency has declared 2 charges related to dacoity (IPC Section-395) and 1 charge each related to making preparation to commit dacoity (IPC Section-399) and assembling for purpose of committing dacoity (IPC Section – 402). Satyendra Sah of Samajwadi Party (SP) fromSasaram constituency has declared 1 charge each related to dacoity (IPC Section-395)and robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt (IPC Section-397).

· Candidates with cases related to Kidnapping: 5 candidates have declared cases related to Kidnapping. 3 candidates have declared offence related to kidnapping for ransom etc. (IPC Section-364A).

· Party wise Candidates with Criminal Cases: 11 (69%) out of 16 candidates fromBharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 4 (31%) out of 13 candidates from Communist Party of India (CPI),15 (47%) out of 32 candidates from BSP, 9 (69%) out of 13 candidates fielded by Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), 6 (32%) out of 19 candidates from SP, 9 (69%) out of 13 candidates of RJD, 4 (67%) out of 6 candidates fielded by Indian National Congress (INC), 1 (7%) out of 14 candidates ofShiv Sena (SHS) along with 9 (47%) out of 19 candidates of the CPI(ML) (L) and 34 (23%) out of 146Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

· Party wise Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 6 (38%) out of 16 candidates from BJP, 2 (15%) out of 13 candidates from CPI, 11 (34%) out of 32 candidates from BSP, 5 (38%) out of 13 candidates fielded by JD(U), 5 (26%) out of 19 candidates from SP, 9 (69%) out of 13 candidates of RJD, 1 (17%) out of 6 candidates fielded by INC, 1 (7%) out of 14 candidates of SHS along with 9 (47%) out of 19 candidates of the CPI(ML) (L) and 31 (21%) out of 146 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Financial Background

· Crorepati Candidates: Out of the 456 candidates, 106 (23%) are crorepatis.

· Party wise Crorepati Candidates: 9 (56%) out of 16 fielded by BJP, 10 (77%) out of 13 candidates from JD(U), 8 (62%) out of 13 candidates from RJD, 8 (42%) out of 19 candidates fielded by SP, 3 (50%) out of 6 candidates of INC, 4 (31%) out of 13 candidates of CPI, 15(47%) out of 32 candidates of BSP and 22 (15%) out of 146 Independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore.