As political parties gear up for the second phase of the Bihar elections, a report by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) revealed that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has fielded the maximum number of tainted candidates in the second phase of elections.
“While 389 candidates, which is 27% of 1,463 candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves,” the report said.
Out of 24 Congress candidates contesting the polls in the second phase, 14 face criminal charges while 10 of them face serious criminal charges.
Out of 52 candidates of the LJP, 24 of them face serious criminal charges.
The report noted that 32 candidates are facing cases related to murder while 143 candidates are facing cases related to attempt to murder.
It also said that in the second phase Assembly polls, 84 out of the 94 constituencies are red alert ones, which is a total of 89%. According to the ADR, red alert constituencies are those where three or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases registered against them.
The ADR report also revealed that 495 candidates out of 1,463 are millionaires.
The report said that the directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in the selection of the candidates in Bihar as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 34% candidates with criminal cases.
It said all major parties contesting in Bihar second phase elections have given tickets to 47-64% candidates, who have declared criminal cases against them.
It said the Supreme Court in its directions dated February 13 had specifically instructed the political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates.
As per these mandatory guidelines, the candidates have to be selected with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit.
The second phase of elections in the state for 94 are scheduled for November 3