Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other Details of Candidates in West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 - Phase I
Summary and Highlights
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and West Bengal Election Watch have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 1475 out of 1478 candidates, who are contesting in the West Bengal Assembly Elections Phase I in 152 constituencies.
Criminal Background
Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of 1475 candidates analyzed, 345 (23%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 294 (20%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Candidates with cases related to Murder: 19 candidates have declared cases of to murder (IPC Section-302).
Candidates with cases related to Attempt to Murder: 105 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) and (BNS Section-109).
Candidates with cases related to Crimes against Women: 98 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. Out of 98 candidates, 6 candidates have declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376) and person committing rape repeatedly on the same woman (IPC Section- 376(2)(n)).
Party wise Candidates with Criminal Cases: Among the major parties, 106 (70%) out of 152 candidates analysed from BJP, 63 (43%) out of 148 candidates analysed from AITC, 43 (44%) out of 98 candidates analysed from CPI (M) and 39 (26%) out of 151 candidates analysed from INC have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Party wise Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: Among the major parties, 96 (63%) out of 152 candidates analysed from BJP, 48 (32%) out of 148 candidates analysed from AITC, 36 (37%) out of 98 candidates analysed from CPI(M) and 33 (22%) out of 151 candidates analysed from INC have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
Red Alert Constituencies*: 66 (43%) out of 152 constituencies are red alert constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 Phase 1 as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 23% candidates with criminal cases. All major parties contesting in the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 Phase 1 Elections 2026 have given tickets from 26% to 70% candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. The Supreme Court in its directions dated 13th February, 2020 had specifically instructed 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 reasons for such selection has to be with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned. During the recent 2 State Assembly elections held in 2025, it was observed that political parties gave unfounded and baseless reasons like popularity of the person, does good social work, cases are politically motivated etc. These are not sound and cogent reasons for fielding candidates with tainted backgrounds. This data clearly shows that political parties have no interest in reforming the electoral system and our democracy will continue to suffer at the hands of lawbreakers who become lawmakers.
Financial Background
Crorepati Candidates: Out of the 1475 candidates, 309 (21%) are crorepatis
Party wise Crorepati Candidates:The role of money power in our elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates. Among the major parties 106 (72%) out of 148 candidates analysed from AITC, 71 (47%) out of 152 candidates analysed from BJP, 50 (33%) out of 151 candidates analysed from INC and 24 (24%) out of 98 candidates analysed from CPI(M) have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.
Average assets: The average of assets per candidate contesting in the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 Phase I is Rs 1.34 Crore.
Party wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 152 BJP candidates analysed is Rs. 2.57 Crores, 151 INC candidates analysed is Rs 2.06 Crore, 148 AITC candidates have average assets of Rs 5.70 Crores and 98 CPI(M) candidates have average assets worth Rs. 92.42 Lacs.
Other Background Details
Education details of candidates: 708(48%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard while 698 (47%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. 26 candidates are Diploma holders. 29 candidates have declared themselves to be just literate and 14 candidates are Illiterates.
Age details of candidates: 450 (31%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years while 781 (53%) candidates have declared their age to be between 41 to 60 years. There are 242 (16%) candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years. There are 2 candidates who have declared age to be above 80 years.
Gender details of candidates: 167 (11%) female candidates are contesting in the West Bengal assembly election 2026 Phase I.