32% Candidates in Bihar Face Criminal charges

• 29 Oct 2025

Why in News? 

A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch (BEW) has revealed a high number of candidates with criminal and financial influence contesting in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections. 

• The findings underscore the persistent issue of criminalisation in politics and the increasing role of money power in Indian elections. 

Key Points 

• About: The analysis by ADR and BEW is based on self-sworn affidavits of 1,303 out of 1,314 candidates contesting for 121 assembly seats in Phase 1 of the Bihar elections, scheduled for 6th November 2025. 
  • The findings highlight both criminal cases and the financial backgrounds of candidates. 
• Criminal Background: 
  • 423 candidates (32%) have declared criminal cases against themselves. 
  • 354 candidates (27%) face serious criminal charges, including murder and crimes against women. 
  • 33 candidates have declared murder charges, while 86 candidates face attempt to murder cases. 
  • 42 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women, including 2 cases of rape. 
• Financial Background: 519 candidates (40%) are crorepatis (declared assets worth ₹1 crore or more). 

Legal Aspects of Disqualification of Criminal Candidates 

• About: The Indian Constitution does not specify as to what disqualifies a person from contesting elections for the Parliament, Legislative Assembly or any other legislature. 
  • The Representation of People Act 1951 mentions the criteria for disqualifying a person from contesting an election of the legislature. 
    • Section 8 of the act provides for disqualification on conviction for certain offences, according to which an individual punished with a jail term of more than two years cannot stand in an election for six years after the jail term has ended. 
    • However, the law does not bar individuals who have criminal cases pending against them from contesting elections therefore, the disqualification of candidates with criminal cases depends on their conviction in these cases. 
• Recommendations: 
  • In 1983, the Vohra Committee on Criminalisation of Politics was constituted with an objective to identify the extent of the political-criminal nexus and to recommend ways in which the criminalisation of politics can be effectively dealt with. 
  • The Law Commission submitted its 244^th report in 2014, which dealt with the need to curb the trend of criminal politicians in the legislature posing serious consequences to democracy and secularism