Bihar phase-III polls: 31% of candidates with criminal cases; only 9% female

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Nov. 4 (EMN): Bihar is set for its third and final phase of polling to the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly on November 7 after the first and second phases were completed with 55.69% and 55.44% voter turnout respectively.

In the third phase, a total of 1204 candidates are in the fray for 78 seats. The first phase saw voting for 71 legislative assembly seats and 94 seats in the second phase. The counting of votes and results will be declared on November 10.

31% candidates with criminal cases

The self-sworn affidavits of 1195 out of 1204 candidates contesting for 78 seats in the Bihar assembly elections 2020 phase-III have revealed that 371 (31%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to a report by election watch dog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). It went on to add that 282 (24%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

The analysis showed that among the major political parties, 32 (73%) out of 44 candidates from RJD have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits; 26 (76%) out of 34 candidates from BJP; 19 (76%) out of 25 candidates from INC; 18 (43%) out of 42 candidates from LJP; 21 (57%) out of 37 candidates from JD(U); and 5 (26%) out of 19 candidates from BSP.

In terms of serious criminal cases, 22 (50%) out of 44 candidates from RJD have declared such cases against themselves; 22 (65%) out of 34 candidates from BJP; 14 (56%) out of 25 candidates from INC; 11 (26%) out of 42 candidates from LJP; 11 (30%) out of 37 candidates from JD(U); and 4 (21%) out of 19 candidates from BSP.

The analysis based on self-declared affidavits also revealed that 37 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women, out of which five were related to rape (IPC Section- 376). It went on to say that 20 candidates have cases related to murder (IPC Section-302) and 73 candidates have cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307).

361 candidates are crorepatis

Among the 1195 candidates contesting in the phase-III of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 and who have declared their affidavits, 361 (30%) of them are crorepatis with an average assets of INR 1.47 crore.

The party-wise crorepatis candidates include 31 (91%) out of 34 from BJP (average assets INR 3.86 cr.); 17 (68%) out of 25 candidates from INC (average assets INR 2.57 cr.); 35 (80%) out of 44 candidates from RJD (average assets INR 4.79 cr.); 30 (81%) out of 37 candidates from JDU (average assets INR 3.31 cr.); 31 (74%) out of 42 candidates from LJP (average assets INR 3.14 cr.); and 10 (53%) out of 19 candidates from BSP (average assets INR 3.36 cr.).

It went on to inform that one candidate has declared zero asset and 557 (47%) candidates have declared liabilities in their affidavits.

Only 110 female candidates

Out of more than 1000 candidates contesting in the final phase of the Bihar assembly election, only 110 (9%) are female.

Education details provided in the affidavits have revealed that 499 (42%) candidates have educational qualification between 5th and 12th standard while 552 (46%) have an educational qualification of graduate or above. As many as 126 candidates are literate, five are illiterate and 12 are diploma holders, while candidate declare education details.

Other details

A total of 123 (10%) candidates contesting in the third phase have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years, while 538 (45%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years, and 534 (45%) between 41 to 60 years.