Bihar Election 2025: Of the four candidates whose fate will be sealed in electronic voting machines during the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections, almost one faces serious criminal charges. According to a report by Bihar Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 27 per cent of the 1,314 candidates contesting on 121 seats on November 6 are accused in serious crimes including murder, rape and assault on women.
These findings are based on the affidavits filed by the candidates themselves. Overall, 423 candidates (about 32 per cent of the total) have declared criminal cases against themselves. Of these, 354 are accused of serious crimes. The report shows that 33 candidates are accused of murder, 86 are accused of attempt to murder and 42 are accused of crimes against women. Two contestants have even revealed cases related to rape.
The data reveals a troubling trend across party lines. Every candidate from the Communist Party of India (Maxist) or CPI(M) contesting in the first phase faces serious criminal charges. This figure is 80 percent for CPI and 64 percent for CPI (Marxist–Leninist) or CPI (ML).
Among the major parties, 60 per cent of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidates and 56 per cent of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates are accused of serious crimes. Congress stands second with 52 per cent, while 26 per cent of Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) and 20 per cent of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates are facing similar allegations. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) reports 18 percent; Whereas, 43 percent of the contenders of Jan Suraj Party are related to serious matters.
When it comes to overall criminal records, the numbers rise even higher. About 76 percent of RJD candidates have declared criminal cases, followed by 65 percent of BJP and Congress candidates. All candidates from both CPI and CPI(M) are facing criminal charges, while 93 per cent of CPI(ML) candidates are facing criminal charges. JD(U) is at 39 per cent, AAP at 27 per cent and BSP at 20 per cent.
The report also offers a glimpse of the financial and social profile of the competitors. Nearly 40 per cent of them are millionaires, with assets worth more than Rs 1 crore and their average declared wealth is Rs 3.26 crore. Nearly half of the candidates are graduates or have higher qualifications, while 40 per cent have only studied grades 5-12. However, women constitute only 9 percent of total claimants.
inside bihar cabinet files
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, who is contesting from Tarapur constituency in Munger district on a BJP ticket, has declared assets worth Rs 11.5 crore (almost six times more than Chief Minister Nitish Kumar). His movable assets are valued at Rs 9.29 crore, while his wife Mamta reported an annual income of Rs 12.7 lakh in 2024-25.
He has a total of gold worth Rs 40 lakh, silver worth Rs 75,000 and a Bolero SUV worth Rs 7 lakh. Chaudhary, who holds a Doctor of Literature degree, also has a rifle worth Rs 4 lakh and a revolver worth Rs 2 lakh inherited from his father.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, who is from the BJP and contesting from Lakhisarai, has declared assets worth over Rs 7.7 crore, in which his wife has a major share. The couple together have gold worth Rs 59 lakh and a fleet that includes an XUV700, a Bolero, a Tavera and a bike. Sinha owes Rs 12.5 lakh, while his wife owes Rs 10 lakh.
Cooperative Department Minister Prem Kumar, who is contesting the elections for the ninth time as a BJP candidate from Gaya, has declared assets worth Rs 3.16 crore, which includes gold and silver worth about Rs 59 lakh. His affidavit lists a Tata Safari car and firearms worth Rs 10 lakh.
BJP leader and Animal and Fisheries Resources Minister Renu Devi, who is contesting from Bettiah in West Champaran district, has total assets of Rs 5.37 crore with properties spread across Bettiah, Patna and Kolkata.
He has gold worth Rs 25.8 lakh, an Innova and a Scorpio worth Rs 27 lakh and firearms worth Rs 1.3 lakh.
BJP leader and Health Minister Mangal Pandey, who is contesting from Siwan, facing three criminal cases, has declared assets worth Rs 2.34 crore and liabilities of Rs 42 lakh. His family has gold and silver worth more than Rs 30 lakh and a Tata Safari.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Dr Sunil Kumar, who is the BJP candidate from Biharsharif, is one of the richest with assets worth Rs 17.5 crore (up by Rs 6 crore in the last five years). His income has increased six times in a single year. He has gold worth Rs 46 lakh and a car worth Rs 21 lakh.
Public Health Engineering Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu, who has been fielded by the BJP from Chhatapur in Supaul district, is the richest minister with declared assets of about Rs 12 crore. His wife, former MLC Nutan Singh, is the owner of Rs 7.4 crore. He has a total of gold and silver worth more than Rs 80 lakh and vehicles including a Fortuner. His total liabilities exceed Rs 2.4 crore.
Urban Development and Housing Minister Jibesh Kumar Mishra, who is from the BJP and is contesting from Jale in Darbhanga district, has declared assets worth about Rs 2 crore. His wife has assets worth more than Rs 4 crore. The couple has gold worth Rs 19 lakh and cars worth more than Rs 50 lakh.
Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Sanjay Saraogi, who is the BJP candidate from Darbhanga, has assets worth more than Rs 5 crore. His family has gold and silver worth more than Rs 74 lakh. He has a debt of about Rs 77 lakh.
Five criminal cases are pending against BJP leader and Road Construction Minister Nitin Naveen, who is contesting from Bankipur in Patna district. His assets are worth Rs 92 lakh, while his wife owns Rs 2.13 crore. He has cars worth about Rs 38 lakh and jewelery worth Rs 8 lakh. The total debt on him is Rs 56 lakh.
BJP leader and Industries Minister Nitish Mishra, who is contesting from Jhanjharpur, has assets worth more than Rs 5 crore. His income has declined since becoming a minister. He and his wife have gold worth more than Rs 1 crore and cars worth more than Rs 80 lakh. He has a total debt of more than Rs 1 crore.
Information Technology Minister Krishna Kumar Mantu, who is from the BJP and is contesting from Amnaur in Saran district, has assets worth Rs 7 crore and five criminal cases pending. His wife is also a millionaire. He has gold worth Rs 27 lakh, three cars and a total loan amount of more than Rs 4 crore.
JD(U)’s Bijendra Prasad Yadav from Supaul has no criminal case against him. His total assets are Rs 4 crore. He has gold and silver jewelery worth less than Rs 10 lakh and does not own a car.
Water Resources Minister and JD(U) MLA from Sarairanjan constituency in Samastipur district Vijay Kumar Chaudhary also has a clean record. His total declared assets are Rs 1.79 crore. He drives a Maruti Alto and earns Rs 6,500 as rent from a mobile tower.
Information and Public Relations Minister Maheshwar Hazari, who is JDU MLA from Warisnagar in Samastipur district, has assets worth Rs 4 crore. His wife has another Rs 6.8 crore. He has two luxury cars and jewelery worth Rs 41 lakh. He has a home loan from State Bank of India.
Tourism Minister Raju Kumar Singh, who is contesting on a BJP ticket from Sahebganj constituency in Muzaffarpur district, owns property worth Rs 11 crore and is facing three criminal cases against him. His wife’s movable assets are worth more than Rs 80 crore. The family owns several vehicles, a petrol pump and gold worth about Rs 80 lakh.
JDU leader and Social Welfare Minister Madan Sahni, contesting from Bahadurpur constituency in Darbhanga district, has assets worth Rs 3 crore and loans worth Rs 79 lakh. His income has doubled in five years. He has three cars including MG Hector and jewelery worth Rs 6 lakh.
JD(U) leader and Science and Technology Minister Sumit Singh, who is once again contesting from Chakai constituency in Jamui district, and his wife together have assets worth more than Rs 13 crore. The couple does not own any vehicle, but they have gold and diamond jewelery worth Rs 47 lakh and weapons worth over Rs 3 lakh. His wife has a debt of more than Rs 2.6 crore.
Transport Minister Sheela Mandal, who is JD(U) MLA from Phulparas Assembly constituency in Madhubani district, and her husband together have assets worth more than Rs 8 crore. He has gold and silver worth Rs 50 lakh but no car. Her husband has a loan of Rs 47 lakh.
Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar, the JD(U) leader who represents Nalanda, owns properties worth Rs 1.7 crore and several vehicles including a Fortuner and an Ambassador. He and his wife have gold worth more than Rs 13 lakh and firearms worth Rs 1 lakh.
BJP leader and Panchayati Raj Minister Kedar Prasad Gupta from Kurhani in Muzaffarpur district owns property worth Rs 1.7 crore. His wife also has approximately the same amount of property. He has gold worth Rs 26 lakh, silver worth Rs 3 lakh and two Scorpio SUVs.
Sports Minister Surendra Mehta, who is the BJP MLA from Bachhwara in Begusarai district, has assets worth less than Rs 1 crore, but he drives two high-end cars, including a Fortuner. The value of his family’s gold is Rs 2.8 lakh.
Rural Affairs Minister Jayant Raj Kushwaha, who is from JD(U) and represents Amarpur in Banka district, has assets worth Rs 2.6 crore and a loan of Rs 32 lakh. His wife owes Rs 7.5 lakh.
JDU leader and Minority Welfare Minister Mohammed Zama Khan, who represents Chainpur in Sasaram, has properties worth Rs 1.3 crore and a pistol worth Rs 2.5 lakh. His wife has jewelery worth Rs 6 lakh.
Food and Consumer Protection Minister Leshi Singh, a JD(U) leader who represents Dhamdaha constituency in Purnia district, has declared assets worth Rs 2.22 crore, including two trucks, three cars and firearms.
