The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) released this data on Wednesday based on self-declared affidavits from 241 of the 243 winning candidates. Data from two chosen MLAs, one from BJP and one from RJD, could not be analyzed because the affidavits submitted by them were unclear.
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The data shows that of the 241 winning candidates, 163 have declared criminal cases against them. In the previous assembly, 142 MLA faced criminal charges.
This time, at least 123 winning candidates or 51% have declared serious criminal cases against them, including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and crime against women. In 2015, 40% of the winning candidates had declared such serious criminal cases against them. At least 19 of the newly elected members of the legal judiciary face murder-related cases, 31 attempted murder and eight crimes against women.
When it comes to partisan breakdown, 44 out of 74 RJD candidates or 73% have declared criminal cases against them, the highest among the major parties.
In BJP, 47 out of 73 newly elected MLAs have declared criminal cases (47%). Similarly, 20 out of 43 newly elected JD (U) MLAs face criminal cases. Of the 19 winning congressional candidates, 10 have declared criminal cases against him. Eight of the 12 winning CPI-ML candidates also face criminal cases. The five winning AIMIM candidates have declared criminal cases against them.
RJD state spokesman Chitranjan Gagan said the candidates had been awarded tickets in strict compliance with the guidelines issued by the Election Commission.
Aside from the increase in the number of MLAs with criminal cases against them, there is also an increase in MLA crorepati. While in 2015 162 out of 243 MLA had declared assets of more than Rs 1 crore (67%), the number has risen to 194 or 81% this time.
The BJP tops the list with 89% of its MLA owning assets of more than Rs 1 million, followed by JD-U (88%), RJD (87%), and Congress (74%). While the average asset of an MLA in 2015 was Rs 3.02 crore, it has risen to Rs 4.32 crore in 2020.
Anant Singh, who beat Mokama on the RJD ticket, is the richest of all the newly elected MLAs with assets of more than Rs 68 crore. Ramvriksh Sada from RJD, who won from the Alauli (SC) seat on the RJD ticket, is the poorest with an asset of just Rs 70,000.
When asked about more MLA crorepati entering the assembly this time from the BJP, the party’s state spokesman, Prem Ranjan Patel, said: “It is natural that as time goes by, one’s wealth increases.”
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