Thirty-two percent of the candidates contesting in the first phase of the Assembly elections in Bihar have declared criminal cases against themselves, a study by the Association for Democratic Reforms and the National Election Watch has shown.
Out of this, 27% have serious criminal cases such as murder and crimes against women, the election watchdogs said on Tuesday.
The Assembly polls will take place in two phases on November 6 and November 11. The votes will be counted on November 14.
The Association for Democratic Reforms and the National Election Watch analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 1,303 out of the 1,314 candidates who are contesting in the first phase of the elections.
Of the analysed affidavits, 423 (32%) candidates declared criminal cases against themselves.
Among the major parties, about 76% of the analysed candidates from the Rashtriya Janata Dal declared criminal cases against themselves, 65% from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 39% from the Janata Dal (United) and 65% from the Congress.
Forty-four percent of the analysed candidates from Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party declared criminal cases.
About 93% of the analysed candidates from Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation declared such cases, 54% from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and 100% from the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The analysis also noted that 354 (27%) of the 1,303 candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
The election watchdogs classify serious criminal cases as those having a maximum punishment of five years or more. It also includes offences that are non-bailable, an electoral offence, related to loss to the exchequer, assault, murder, kidnap, rape and crimes against women.
While 33 candidates had cases related to murder, the candidates with cases linked to attempt to murder were 86.
Forty-two candidates had cases related to crimes against women. Of these, two candidates had declared cases related to rape.
The study also analysed the growing influence of wealth in the electoral process.
Of the 1,303 candidates analysed, 519 (or 40%) had assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.
Among the major parties, the RJD had the highest share of crorepatis at 97%, followed by the BJP at 92%, the JD(U) at 91% and the Congress at 78%.
The election watchdogs also said that 519, or about 40%, of the candidates had declared their educational qualifications to be between Class 5 and Class 12, while 651, or around 50%, had declared having an educational qualification of a graduate degree or above.
Nineteen candidates were diploma-holders, the Association for Democratic Reforms report said, adding that 105 candidates had declared themselves to be literate and eight candidates illiterate.
The report added that only 121, or about 9%, of the candidates contesting in the first phase were women.
The Association for Democratic Reforms and the National Election Watch said that the way to remedy the existing problem of criminalisation was to immediately act on the plausible solutions offered by several committees, civil society and citizens.
“Supreme Court of India being the ultimate custodian of ‘Justice and Rule of Law’ should reprimand political parties and politicians for their complete lack of will, reprehensible predilection and absence of required laws,” it said.
The election watchdogs recommended permanent disqualification of the candidates convicted for heinous crimes such as murder, rape, smuggling, dacoity and kidnapping.
“Disqualification of persons from contesting elections to the public offices against whom charges have been framed for having committed serious criminal offences punishable by imprisonment of at least five years, and the case is filed at least six months prior to the election in question,” the report said.
It also recommended the cancellation of tax exemptions given to political parties that field such “tainted” candidates and bringing all parties under the Right to Information Act. “De-register and de-recognise any political party if it knowingly puts up a candidate with a tainted background,” the election watchdogs added.
Also read: Unfriendly fights: Will RJD-Congress infighting give BJP-JD(U) the edge in Bihar?
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