Bihar elections 2025: 40% of candidates are crorepatis; average assets cross Rs 3 crore

Patna: The political landscape in Bihar is heating up, but will the candidates' tainted positions tarnish this election? The latest report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch sheds light on the backgrounds of the 1,303 candidates contesting the first phase of the upcoming assembly elections. The crime, property, and education statistics for this phase, which will be held on November 6th for a total of 121 seats, are shocking. Are these figures a warning to the people of Bihar? Let's examine the report's perspective.

How many candidates face criminal charges?

The report's starkest truth is this: 423 candidates (32 percent) have criminal cases pending against them, of which 354 (27 percent) face serious charges. 33 cases of murder, 86 cases of attempted murder, and 42 accused of crimes against women—these figures are just a few. Two candidates also face rape charges. Has criminalization of Bihar's politics become so profound that voters must choose "tainted" options? This question haunts every conscious citizen.

Which party's candidates are the most "tainted"?

If we examine the party's black book, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) tops the list—53 out of 70 candidates (76 percent) have cases against them. The BJP has 31 out of 48 (65 percent), and the Congress has 15 out of 23 (65 percent). The Jansuraj Party has 50 out of 114 (44 percent), the JDU has 22 out of 57 (39 percent), and the AAP has 12 out of 44 (27 percent). Only a "few," 18 out of 89 (20 percent), of the BSP have tainted candidates, but 13 out of 14 (93 percent) of the CPI(ML) and all 5 (100 percent) of the CPI have cases registered against them. Don't these figures raise questions about the internal cleanliness of parties? The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)'s 7 out of 13 (54 percent) cases are also a matter of concern.

Who leads in serious crimes, RJD or BJP?

The list of serious cases is even more frightening. 42 out of 70 (60 percent) RJD candidates face serious charges, while the BJP faces 27 out of 48 (56 percent). The CPI(ML) has 9 out of 14 (64 percent), the Congress has 12 out of 23 (52 percent), and the Jansuraj has 49 out of 114 (43 percent). The JDU (26 percent) and BSP (18 percent) appear somewhat "clean," but the CPI has 4 out of 5 (80 percent) and all 3 of the CPI(M) candidates face serious cases. Will voters be able to ignore these figures, or will this become a test of electoral ethics?

How "glamorous" are the candidates' assets?

Apart from crime, the game of money power is also amazing. Of the 1,303 candidates, 519 (40 percent) are millionaires, with an average wealth of ₹3.26 crore. In a poor state like Bihar, aren't these wealthy candidates pushing democracy towards crony capitalism? These figures show that politics is no longer just a means of service but also a path to wealth accumulation.

How strong or weak is the level of education?

Questions remain on the education front as well. 519 candidates (40 percent) declared themselves to be 5th to 12th pass, while 651 (50 percent) are graduates or above. What about the remaining 10 percent? Does the Bihar Assembly need representatives who formulate policies or simply buy votes? This figure is a hindrance to development.

Why is the participation of women so meager?

Women represented only 9 percent of the total candidates in the first phase. Voting for Bihar's 243-seat Assembly will be held in two phases—November 6 and 11—and counting will be done on November 14. Isn't this statistic a disgrace to claims of gender equality? Talk of empowering women is fine, but such a low share of tickets is sheer electoral hypocrisy.

This ADR report is not just a bundle of statistics but a mirror for Bihar's voters. Will the public wash away these stains, or will this dark chapter of politics continue? The decision is yours, but be sure to look at these figures before making your decision.