Press Release: Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024: Consolidated Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender, and Other Details of Candidates - Phase 1 and 2
ADR India
Summary and Highlights
|
Party |
Total Contesting Candidates |
Total Number of Analysed Candidates |
Candidates with declared Criminal Cases |
% of candidates with declared criminal cases |
Candidates with declared serious criminal cases |
% of candidates with declared serious criminal cases |
No. of Crorepatis |
Percentage of Crorepati Candidates |
|
National Parties |
160 |
159 |
66 |
42% |
50 |
31% |
93 |
58% |
|
State Parties |
138 |
138 |
54 |
39% |
45 |
33% |
76 |
55% |
|
Registered Unrecognized Party |
323 |
323 |
84 |
26% |
67 |
21% |
67 |
21% |
|
Independent |
590 |
584 |
118 |
20% |
87 |
15% |
126 |
22% |
|
Total |
1211 |
1204 |
322 |
27% |
249 |
21% |
362 |
30% |
Table: Party Category Wise Details
|
Phase |
No. of contesting candidates |
No. of Candidates analysed |
No. of Constituencies |
No. of Candidates with Criminal Cases |
% of Candidates with Criminal Cases |
No. of Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases |
% of Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases |
No. of Crorepati Candidates |
% of Crorepati Candidates |
Average Assets (Rs. In crores) |
Date of Poll |
|
1 |
683 |
682 |
43 |
174 |
26% |
127 |
19% |
235 |
34% |
2.16 |
13th November, 2024 |
|
2 |
528 |
522 |
38 |
148 |
28% |
122 |
23% |
127 |
24% |
2.53 |
20th November, 2024 |
|
Total |
1211 |
1204 |
81 |
322 |
27% |
249 |
21% |
362 |
30% |
2.32 |
- |
- Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of the 1204 candidates analysed in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024, 322(27%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. In 2019 Jharkhand Assembly Elections, out of 1216 candidates analysed, 335(28%) had declared criminal cases against themselves.
- Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 249(21%) have declared serious criminal cases. In 2019 Jharkhand Assembly Elections, 222 (18%) candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
- Party wise Candidates with Criminal Cases: Among the major parties,34(50%) out of 68 candidates analysed from BJP, 16(55%) out of 29 candidates analysed from INC, 16 (37%) out of 43 candidates analysed from JMM and 7 (70%) out of 10 candidates analysed from AJSU Party have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
- Party wise Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: Among the major parties,27(40%) out of 68 candidates analysed from BJP, 12(41%) out of 29 candidates analysed from INC, 12 (28%) out of 43 candidates analysed from JMM and 6 (60%) out of 10 candidates analysed from AJSU Party have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
|
Jharkhand Assembly 2019 |
Jharkhand Assembly 2024 |
|||||
|
Number of Candidates Analysed |
Number of candidates with Declared Criminal Cases |
Percentage of candidates with Declared Criminal Cases |
Number of Candidates Analysed |
Number of candidates with Declared Criminal Cases |
Percentage of candidates with Declared Criminal Cases |
|
|
BJP |
79 |
35 |
44% |
68 |
34 |
50% |
|
INC |
31 |
16 |
52% |
29 |
16 |
55% |
|
JMM |
43 |
19 |
44% |
43 |
16 |
37% |
|
AJSU PARTY |
53 |
25 |
47% |
10 |
7 |
70% |
|
RJD |
7 |
6 |
86% |
7 |
5 |
71% |
|
BSP |
66 |
15 |
23% |
53 |
16 |
30% |
|
Independent |
368 |
71 |
19% |
584 |
118 |
20% |
- Candidates with declared cases related to crime against women: 23 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women. Out of 23 candidates 1 candidate has declared charges related to rape (IPC Section-376).
- Candidates with declared cases related to murder: 7 candidates have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section -302) against themselves.
- Candidates with declared cases related to attempt to murder: 74 candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section 307) (BNS Section-109) against themselves.
- Candidates with cases related to Hate Speech: 24 candidates have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves.
- Red Alert Constituencies*: 57(70%) out of 81 constituencies are red alert constituencies. Red alert constituencies are those where 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. 60 (74%) constituencies in the Jharkhand assembly elections 2019 had 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases.
- The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in the Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 27% candidates with criminal cases. All major parties contesting in Jharkhand elections have given tickets from 17% to 71% 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 2024, 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
Figure: Share of Wealth
among the Contesting Candidates- Share of wealth among candidates: The share of wealth amongst the candidates contesting in the Jharkhand assembly elections 2024 is as follows:
|
Value of assets (Rs.) |
Number of candidates |
Percentage of Candidates |
|
5 crores and above |
101 |
8% |
|
2 crores to 5 crores |
120 |
10% |
|
50 lakhs to 2 crores |
328 |
27% |
|
10 lakhs to 50 lakhs |
375 |
32% |
|
less than 10 lakhs |
280 |
23% |
Table: Share of wealth amongst contesting candidates
- Crorepati Candidates: Out of the 1204 candidates analysed, 362(30%) are crorepatis. In 2019 Jharkhand Assembly Elections, out of 1216 candidates, 293(24%) were 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 53(78%) out of 68 candidates analysed from BJP, 26(90%) out of 29 candidates analysed from INC, 36(84%) out of 43 candidates analysed from JMM and 7(70%) out of 10 candidates analysed from AJSU Party have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.
|
Party |
Jharkhand Assembly 2019 |
Jharkhand Assembly 2024 |
||||
|
Number of Candidates Analysed |
Number of Crorepati Candidates |
Percentage of Crorepati Candidates |
Number of Candidates Analysed |
Number of Crorepati Candidates |
Percentage of Crorepati Candidates |
|
|
BJP |
79 |
50 |
63% |
68 |
53 |
78% |
|
INC |
31 |
17 |
55% |
29 |
26 |
90% |
|
JMM |
43 |
31 |
72% |
43 |
36 |
84% |
|
AJSU PARTY |
53 |
26 |
49% |
10 |
7 |
70% |
|
RJD |
7 |
6 |
86% |
7 |
6 |
86% |
|
BSP |
66 |
14 |
21% |
53 |
11 |
21% |
|
Independent |
368 |
40 |
11% |
584 |
126 |
22% |
- Average assets: The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 is Rs 2.32 Crore. In 2019 Jharkhand Assembly Elections, average assets per candidate for 1216 Candidates was Rs. 1.24 crore.
- Party wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 68 BJP candidates analysed is Rs. 5.31 Crores, 29 INC candidates analysed is Rs 9.94 Crores, 43 JMM candidates have average assets of Rs 5.64 Crores and 10 AJSU Party candidates have average assets worth Rs 6.34 Crores.
- High asset candidates: The details of top 3 candidates with highest declared assets, contesting in the Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 are given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Movable Assets (Rs) |
Immovable Assets (Rs) |
Total Assets (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
Aquil Akhtar |
Pakur |
Pakur |
SP |
99,51,816 |
4,02,00,00,000 |
4,02,99,51,816 |
Y |
|
2 |
Niranjan Rai |
Giridih |
Dhanwar |
IND |
1,27,20,62,527 |
10,16,00,000 |
1,37,36,62,527 |
Y |
|
3 |
Kandomani Bhumij |
East Singhbhum |
Potka (ST) |
IND |
70,000 |
80,00,00,000 |
80,00,70,000 |
Y |
Table: Top three candidates with highest declared assets
- Zero assets candidates: One candidate of Jharkhand Peoples Party namely Elian Hansdak contesting from Maheshpur (ST) constituency has declared zero assets.
- Low assets candidates: The details of three candidates with lowest assets (excluding zero assets candidate) are given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Movable Assets (Rs) |
Immovable Assets (Rs) |
Total Assets (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
Rajeshwar Mahto |
Ranchi |
Silli |
IND |
100* |
0 |
100 |
N |
|
2 |
Jitender Oraon |
Ranchi |
Khijri (ST) |
IND |
2,500 |
0 |
2,500 |
Y |
|
3 |
Sushil Topno |
Gumla |
Sisai (ST) |
Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha |
7,000* |
0 |
7,000 |
Y |
Table: Candidates with declared lowest assets
* On assets value indicates that the candidate has not provided the total in their affidavits, it has been calculated on the basis of details provided by them in the same
- Candidates with high liabilities: 555(46%) candidates have declared liabilities in their affidavits. The details of top three candidates with highest liabilities are given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Total Assets (Rs) |
Liabilities (Rs) |
Disputed liabilities (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
Binod Kumar |
Palamu |
Panki |
IND |
16,12,56,331 |
3,02,43,37,882 |
3,02,43,37,882 |
Y |
|
2 |
Niranjan Rai |
Giridih |
Dhanwar |
IND |
1,37,36,62,527 |
77,89,61,311 |
0 |
Y |
|
3 |
Md. Tajuddin |
Sahebganj |
Rajmahal |
JMM |
19,39,39,135 |
8,95,19,267 |
0 |
Y |
Table: Top three candidates with highest liabilities
- Candidates with high income as declared in the ITR*: The details of top 3 candidates with high income declared in ITR are given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
Party Name |
Constituency |
District |
Total Assets (Rs) |
Self Source of Income |
Spouse's Source of Income |
The financial year for which the last income tax return has been filed by candidate |
Total income shown by candidate in ITR (Self+Spouse+Dependent) (Rs) |
Self income shown by candidate in ITR (Rs) |
|
1 |
Niranjan Rai |
IND |
Dhanwar |
Giridih |
1,37,36,62,527 137 Crore+ |
Business |
Business |
2023-2024 |
15,47,14,647 15 Crore+ |
15,05,23,010 15 Crore+ |
|
2 |
Meera Munda |
BJP |
Potka (St) |
East Singhbhum |
14,90,86,960 14 Crore+ |
Business Income, Directors Remuneration, Bank Interest |
Pension as Ex-MP, Parliament of India, Bank Interest |
2023-2024 |
3,92,72,277 3 Crore+ |
3,72,54,141 3 Crore+ |
|
3 |
Ajoy Kumar |
INC |
Jamshedpur East |
East Singhbhum |
43,76,26,439 43 Crore+ |
Salary, Board Membership (Sitting Fees), Rent, and Interest Income |
Govt. Pension and Interest Income |
2023-2024 |
2,74,33,620 2 Crore+ |
2,41,02,280 2 Crore+ |
Table: Top 3 candidates with highest income as declared in ITR
- Undeclared PAN: A total of 40(3%) candidates have not declared their PAN details.
- Education details of candidates: 555(46%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard while 582(48%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. 12 candidates are Diploma holders. 52 candidates have declared themselves to be just literate and 3 candidates are Illiterates.
- Age details of candidates: 487(40%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years while 586 (49%) candidates have declared their age to be between 41 to 60 years. There are 131 (11%) candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 to 80 years.
- Gender details of candidates: 128(11%) female candidates are contesting in the Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024. In 2019 Jharkhand Assembly Elections, 128(11%) out of 1216 candidates analysed were women.
Jharkhand Election Watch
|
Mr. Sudhir Pal State Coordinator |
Association for Democratic Reforms/National Election Watch
|
Media and Journalist Helpline
Email: a...@adrindia.org |
Maj.Gen. Anil Verma (Retd) Head Association for Democratic Reforms, National Election Watch 011 4165 4200, a...@adrIndia.org,
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Prof Jagdeep Chhokar IIM Ahmedabad (Retd.) Founder Member, Association for Democratic Reforms, National Election Watch |
Prof Trilochan Sastry IIM Bangalore Founder Member, Association for Democratic Reforms, National Election Watch |
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