Out of the 456 candidates contesting for 32 seats in the second phase of Bihar Assembly elections, 142 (31%) have declared criminal cases against themselves according to the Association for Democratic Reforms which studied the affidavits in detail. Candidates with serious criminal cases number 110 (24%). Serious criminal cases include those related to murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping, crimes against women etc.
Parties with the biggest stake in Bihar elections like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal United (JDU) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have clearly ignored candidates with a clean image and gone for those with tainted record. Out of the 16 BJP candidates, 11 (69%) have criminal records. The percentage is no different for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JDU and Lalu Prasad-led RJD.
Nine (69%) out of 13 candidates fielded by both JDU and RJD face criminal charges. The other parties fare no better with four (31%) out of 13 candidates from Communist Party of India (CPI), 15 (47%) out of 32 candidates from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), six (32%) out of 19 candidates from Samajwadi Party, four (67%) out of six candidates fielded by Congress, one (7%) out of 14 candidates of Shiv Sena along with nine (47%) out of 19 Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (CPI (ML) L) and 34 (23%) of the 146 Independents have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Party wise candidates with serious criminal cases include six (38%) out of 16 candidates from BJP, 5 (38%) out of 13 candidates fielded by JDU and nine (69%) out of 13 RJD candidates.
Two (15%) out of 13 candidates from CPI, 11 (34%) out of 32 candidates from BSP, five (26%) out of 19 candidates from SP, one (17%) out of six Congress candidates, one (7%) out of 14 Shiv Sena candidates along with nine (47%) out of 19 candidates of the CPI(ML) (L) and 31 (21%) out of 146 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
BSP candidate from Chenari (SC) Ramendra Ram faces two charges related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302) while 10 other candidates face one charge each. Two candidates of Garib Janata (Secular), one of CPI (ML)(L), one of Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, one Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and five Independents have declared cases related to murder in their affidavits.
Candidates with cases related to attempt to murder: Thirty-six candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307). Munna Ram, a CPI (ML)(L) candidate from Mohania constituency faces four charges related to attempt to murder. Ramendra Ram of the BSP from Chenari (SC) constituency and Prabhat Kumar Ranjan of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) from Ghosi constituency have declared three charges related to attempt to murder. While CPI (ML)(L) fielded four candidates facing charges related to attempt to murder, BSP fielded three. Twelve Independents have each declared charges related to attempt to murder.
Candidates with cases related to crimes against women: Six candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. One candidate fielded by BSP, one by RJD, one by Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha and one Independent have each declared offence related to assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty (IPC Section-354).
Candidates with cases related to causing communal disharmony: Two candidates have declared cases relating to causing communal disharmony. Pradeep Kumar Joshi of Rashtra Sewa Dal from Dheri constituency has declared two charges related to deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs (IPC Section-295A) and one case related to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (IPC Section-153A).
Vikas Singh, an Independent candidate from Bhabua constituency has declared one charge related to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (IPC Section-153A) and one charge related to injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class (IPC Section-295).
Candidates with cases related to robbery and dacoity: Four candidates have declared cases related to robbery and dacoity. Naresh Kumar Bharti, an Independent from Bodh Gaya (SC) constituency has declared two charges related to dacoity (IPC Section-395) and one charge each related to making preparation to commit dacoity (IPC Section-399) and assembling for purpose of committing dacoity (IPC Section - 402). Satyendra Sah of Samajwadi Party from Sasaram constituency has declared one charge each related to dacoity (IPC Section-395) and robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt (IPC Section-397).
Candidates with cases related to kidnapping: Five candidates have declared cases related to kidnapping. Three candidates have declared offence related to kidnapping for ransom etc. (IPC Section-364A).
A total of 23 constituencies in the second phase of Bihar Assembly elections have three or more candidates with declared criminal cases. Aurangabad constituency with nine candidates has the highest number of contestants who have self-declared criminal cases against themselves.
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