23 pc of candidates in Bihar polls face criminal charges

Twenty-three per cent of about 3,450 candidates who filed nominations for five phases of the Bihar elections  have serious criminal charges against them while one-fourth of the hopefuls are crorepatis.

BJP tops the list with the highest numbers of candidates with serious criminal charges but on percentage terms, the RJD and JD(U) are on the top, according to Association for Democratic Rights (ADR).

Among parties, the BJP has fielded 62 candidates with serious criminal charges in all the five phases while its main rivals RJD and JD(U) have 47 and 41, respectively. However, when it comes to percentage of candidates with criminal records, the BJP has 39 per cent of such candidates (62 of 157) while RJD has 47 per cent (47 out of 101) and JD(U) 41 per cent (41 out of 101).

Smaller parties in Bihar like the BSP and SP have fielded more candidates with criminal charges compared to the JD(U) and RJD.

The BSP has fielded 51 such candidates followed by the SP (44). Of 41 candidates from the Congress, 12 face criminal charges while LJP has 17 (out of 42). Fifth and final phase taken alone, 23 per cent of 827 candidates have declared serious criminal cases while 22 per cent are crorepatis. The fifth phase of polls will be held on November 5.

Fifteen candidates in the final phase have declared cases related to murder. Mahboob Alam of the CPI(ML) Liberation from Balrampur constituency has declared three charges related to murder.

In this phase, 21 of 38 candidates from the BJP, 13 of 25 candidates fielded by JD(U), 10 of 20 RJD candidates and seven of 12 candidates fielded by the Congress have declared criminal cases in their affidavits.