Over 1,100 candidates with criminal antecedents contested Bihar Assembly polls

Around 1,200 candidates who fought the just-concluded Bihar Assembly elections had criminal cases against them, according to data collected by the Election Commission and private poll watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The Election Commission data pegged the number of criminal candidates at 1,157 out of the 3,733, while the ADR put the number at 1,201 after analysing the affidavits of 3,722 candidates.

For latest updates on the Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 on DH, click here

According to the ADR report, 915 (25% of total candidates) out of 1,201 candidates with cases against them were facing serious charges that could attract a jail term of more than two years. The Election Commission has not given any such data.

The ADR report for 2015 Assembly showed that 1,038 out of 3,450 candidates analysed had criminal cases, out of which 769 had serious charges against them.

Among the major parties, 98 (70%) out of 141 candidates analysed from RJD, 76(70%) out of 109 candidates analysed from BJP, 45 (64%) out of 70 candidates analysed from Congress, 70 (52%) out of 135 candidates analysed from LJP, 56 (49%) out of 115 candidates analysed from JD(U) and 29 (37%) out of 78 candidates analysed from BSP have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Bihar Assembly Election live updates on DH

When it comes to serious offences, 72 (51%) out of 141 candidates from RJD, 55 (51%) out of 109 from BJP, 33 (47%) out of 70 Congress, 55 (41%) out of 135 from LJP, 36 (31%) out of 115 from JD(U) and 23 (30%) out of 78 from BSP figure in the list.

There were 115 candidates who declared cases related to crime against women, out of which 12 have rape cases against them. Seventy-three candidates have murder cases while 278 candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder. When it comes to red alert constituencies, which has more than three candidates with criminal cases, 217 (89%) out of 243 constituencies were in this category.

"The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 32% candidates with criminal cases. All major parties contesting in Bihar Assembly elections 2020 have given tickets to 37-70% candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves," the ADR said.

It said the Supreme Court in its directions on February 13 had specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates. As per these mandatory guidelines, the reasons for such selection has to be with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned.

"Unfounded and baseless reasons given by political parties like popularity of the person, does good social work, cases are politically motivated etc are not sound and cogent reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds. This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers," it added.