An intensive voter awareness campaign has been launched across Patna district to encourage greater voter turnout during the Bihar Assembly elections in Patna on October 26, 2025. | Photo credit: ANI
About 32% of the candidates in the upcoming Bihar Assembly Phase 1 polls have declared criminal charges against them, of which 27% have serious criminal offenses such as murders and crimes against women. analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The ADR and Bihar Election Watch analysis took into account the affidavits of 1,303 of the 1,314 candidates contesting the first phase of Bihar elections.
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Out of 1,303 analyzed candidates, 423 (32%) candidates declared criminal proceedings against themselves. While 354 (27%) candidates declared serious criminal proceedings against themselves.
There are 33 candidates with cases related to murder, and 86 candidates have reported cases of attempted murder. A total of 42 candidates cited cases related to crimes against women, of which two candidates cited cases related to rape.
In terms of political parties, CPI(ML) had the largest number of candidates with criminal cases (93%), followed by RJD (76%) and then BJP (65%).
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Among the major parties, 50 (44%) out of 114 candidates analyzed from Jan Suraaj’s party, 18 (20%) out of 89 candidates analyzed from BSP, 53 (76%) out of 70 candidates analyzed from RJD, 22 (39%) out of 57 candidates analyzed from 3% of candidates analyzed from JD(U 8) BJP, 12 (27%) out of 44 of candidates analyzed from AAP, 15 (65%) out of 23 candidates analyzed from Congress, 13 (93%) out of 14 candidates analyzed from CPI(ML)(L), 7 (54%) out of 13 candidates analyzed from Lok Janshakti out of 150% candidates from 150% Janshakti 5am (R) analyzed from CPI and 3 (100%) out of 3 of the candidates analyzed from the CPI(M) in their affidavits have declared criminal prosecution against them.
Published – 28 Oct 2025 19:11 IST
