1/3rd candidates in Bihar polls' phase II facing criminal cases

About one-third of the candidates for the second-phase of the Bihar assembly polls have declared their criminal cases, with the BJP, JD-U and RJD fielding the maximum number of such candidates, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said on Friday.

There are 456 candidates in the fray in the second phase of the Bihar polls. Polling for 32 seats in the second phase will be held on October 16.

Twenty four percent candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping and crimes against women, the ADR said in a statement.

While 11 candidates have declared cases related to murder, 36 face attempt to murder cases.

The statement said that 106 (23 percent) of 456 candidates are "crorepatis (millionaires)" with the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) having them in the largest proportion.

The average of assets per candidate contesting in the second phase of Bihar assembly elections is Rs.1.18 crores.

The ADR and Bihar Election Watch analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 456 candidates in the fray in the second phase, the statement added.

"Out of all the 456 candidates, 142 (31 percent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. 110 (24 percent) candidates have declared serious criminal cases," the release said.

It said Ramendra Ram of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has declared two charges related to murder while rest of the candidates face one charge each.

The statement said two candidates of Garib Janata (Secular) and one each of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (CPI-ML (L)), Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, RJD and five Independent candidates have declared a case related to murder in their affidavits.

Giving details of 36 candidates who have declared cases of attempt to murder, the release said CPI (ML)(L) candidate Munna Ram contesting from Mohania faces four charges, Ramendra Ram of the Bahujan Samaj Party from Chenari (SC) constituency and Prabhat Kumar Ranjan of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) from Ghosi constituency have declared three charges.

The CPI (ML)(L) has fielded four candidates with charges related to attempt to murder and BSP has fielded three. Twelve independent candidates have each declared charges related to attempt to murder.

The release said six candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women, two about causing communal disharmony and four related to robbery and dacoity.

The release said five candidates have declared cases related to kidnapping and three candidates offence related to kidnapping for ransom.

"Eleven (69 percent) out of 16 candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), nine (69 percent) out of 13 candidates fielded by Janata Dal-United, nine (69 percent) out of 13 candidates of Rashtriya Janata Dal have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits," the release said.

Referring to candidates with serious criminal cases, the release said that six (38 percent) out of 16 candidates from BJP, five (38 percent) out of 13 candidates fielded by JD-U, nine (69 percent) out of 13 candidates of RJD and 31 (21 percent) out of 146 Independent candidates were among those who have declared serious criminal cases.

It said 23 constituencies in the second phase of Bihar assembly elections have three or more candidates with declared criminal cases.

"Aurangabad constituency with nine candidates has the highest number of candidates who have self-declared criminal cases," it said.

The release said nine of 16 (56 percent) fielded by BJP, 10 (77 percent) out of 13 candidates from JD(U), 8 out of 13 (62 percent) candidates from the RJD, eight out of 19 candidates (42 percent) fielded by SP, three out of 6 candidates (50 percent) of Congress and four out of 13 (31 percent) candidates of the CPI were among those having declared assets worth more than Rs.1 crore.

Average assets, it said, per candidate for 16 BJP candidates was Rs. 4.19 crores, 32 BSP candidates have average assets of Rs 2.78 crores, 13 JD-U candidates have average assets worth of Rs 1.65 crores, six Congress candidates have average assets worth Rs 1.44 crores and 13 RJD candidates have average assets worth of Rs 1.89 crores.