West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 | 600 candidates have serious criminal cases, 629 crorepatis: ADR data

Nearly 600 candidates fighting West Bengal Assembly elections in two phases have serious criminal cases against them while 629 are crorepatis, an analysis by Association for Democratic Reforms said on Tuesday.

Among the candidates with serious criminal cases, BJP topped the list with 188 candidates while Trinamool Congress came second with 90, CPI(M) 78 and Congress 63.

West Bengal Polls: Muscle and Money Power

Candidates: 2926

Analysed: 2920

Women: 385

Candidates with:

Serious Criminal Cases: 589 (431 in 2021)

BJP: 188

Trinamool Congress: 90

Cong: 63

CPI(M): 78

Crime Against Women: 192

BJP-77; Trinamool-21; Cong: 14; CPI(M)-22

Murder: 35

BJP-10; Trinamool-9; Cong:2; CPI(M)-6

Attempt to Murder: 185

BJP-69; Trinamool-24; Cong:15; CPI(M)-22

Red Alert Constituencies (with 3 or more candidates with cases): 129 (78 in 2021)

Crorepatis: 629 (394 in 2021)

Trinamool Congress: 209

BJP: 143

Congress: 86

CPI(M): 57

Average of assets per candidate: Rs 1.27 crore (Rs. 91.69 lakh in 2021)

Richest:

Jakir Hossain -- Jangipur -- Trinamool Congress -- Rs 133.52 crore

Poorest:

Rubiya Begam -- Durgapur Purba -- Aam Janata Unnayan Party -- Rs 500

Zero Assets Declared: 4

Recontesting MLAs: 202

Average Assets in 2021 Elections: Rs 2.90 crore

Average Assets in 2026 Elections: Rs 4.74 crore

Average Asset Growth in 5 years: Rs 1.83 crore (63%)

Education

1354: Class 5th to 12th

1419: Graduate or above

49: Diploma holders

68: Just literate

30: Illiterate

Age

854: 25-40 years

1567: 41-60 years

495: 61-80 years

4: Above 80 years