A total of 130 candidates with serious criminal cases against them, including related to murder, will contest in the first phase of Bihar Assembly polls on October 12. Polling will be held in 49 out of 243 seats in this phase with 583 candidates in the fray. 

The number of crorepatis contesting the first phase poll is 146 which is 25 per cent of the total number of 583 candidates. Party wise, the largest number of crorepati candidates, 19, belong to JD-U, closely followed by BJP with 18, and RJD with 11. 

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which has prepared areport through the candidates' affidavits obtained from the Election Commission website, said 170 candidates have criminal cases against them while 130 of them contesting from 37 seats have been booked for serious non-bailable offences. 

There are 16 candidates with cases related to murder, including Pradeep Kumar of JD-U who has declared four cases related to murder. Seven independent candidates too have cases of murder against them, the report said.