Second Phase of Bihar Elections : Some Interesting Facts

The second phase of the five-phase Bihar elections, which takes place on October 16, has the lowest number of constituencies going to poll. While there were 49 constituencies that went to poll in the just concluded fiRs.t phase that saw a record 57 per cent voteRs.’ turnout, the second phase has only 32 assembly constituencies across six districts – Arwal, Aurangabad, Gaya, Jehanabad, Kaimur and Rohtas. The number of constituencies going to poll in the third, fourth and fifth phase are respectively 50, 55 and 57. However, the number of districts going to polls in the second and third phase are the same at six. While in the fiRs.t phase, voting took place in 10 districts – the largest, the fourth and fifth phase of voting will respectively, be held in seven and nine districts of the state.

Following are some interesting facts about the regions that go to polls during the second phase on October 16 in Bihar:

Total Constituencies to go to poll in the second phase: 32

Total Candidates in the fray in the second phase: 456

Total number of female candidates in the second phase: 31 (7%)

Total Polling Station – 8,849

Total Voters in the second phase: 85,86,704

• Male Voters – 45,71,805

• Female Voters – 40,14,585

Results on these 32 seats in 2010

• Janata Dal (United) – 18

• Bharatiya Janata party – 9

• Rashtriya Janata Dal – 2

• Lok Janshakti Party – 1

• Independents – 2

Crorepati candidates in the second phase – 106 (23% of the total contestants in the fray in the second phase)

Average assets of candidates in the second phase – Rs.1.18 crores

Partywise average assets per candidate in second phase

• BJP — Rs 4.19 crore,
• BSP — Rs 2.78 crore
• SP — Rs2.12 crore
• RJD —  Rs1.89 crore
• JD(U) — Rs1.65 crore
• Congress — Rs1.44 crore
• CPI —  Rs61.88 lakh

Party-wise break up of Crorepati candidates in the second phase

• Independents – 22 Crorepati Candidates out of total 146 Independents in the fray (15%)
• Bahujan Samaj Party – 15 Crorepati Candidates out of total 32 candidates (47%)
• Janata Dal (United) – 10 Crorepati candidates out of 13 candidates
• Bharatiya Janata Party –  9 Crorepati Candidates
• Rashtriya Janata Dal – 8 Crorepati Candidates
• Samajwadi Party – 8 Crorepati Candidates
• Communist Party of India – 4 Crorepati Candidates
• Congress Party – 3 Crorepati Candidates

Party-wise percentage of Crorepati Candidates in the second phase

• JD(U) – 77% Crorepati Candidates

• RJD – 62%  Crorepati Candidates

• BJP–  56 %  Crorepati Candidates

• Congress – 50% Crorepati Candidates

• BSP – 47% Crorepati Candidates

• SP – 42%  Crorepati Candidates

• CPI – 31% Crorepati Candidates

• Independents – 15% Crorepati Candidates

Richest and poorest candidates in the second phase

• Richest Candidates:  BSP’s Kaushal Singh of Aurangabad has total assets over Rs 45 crore. BJP’s Gopal Narayan Singh of Nabinagar has total assets worth over Rs 42 crore. Arakshan Virodhi Party candidate Lalit Mohan Singh, who is contesting from Arwal has assets worth over Rs 34 crore.

• Poorest Candidates: CPI’s Ram Ashish Ram from Nabinagar has total assets worth Rs 1,000 only. Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha candidate from Bodh Gaya (Reserved), Raj Kumar Paswan, has assets of Rs 3,000. Krantikari Vikas Dal candidate Munni Devi from Barachatti (reserved seat) has assets worth Rs 7,000 only.

Non Declaration of PAN -- 185 (41%) candidates in the second phase have not declared their PAN details besides nine candidates who own assets worth more than Rs 1 crore without PAN details.

Age groups of candidates in the second phase

• Number of candidates between 25-50 age group – 323 (71%)

• Number of candidates between 51-80 age group — 128 (28%)

Educational Qualification of Candidates in the Second Phase

• Graduate and above – 207

  • Doctorate – 23

  • Post Graduates – 51

  • Graduates with professional degrees – 23

  • Graduates – 110

• Between 5^th pass and 12^th pass – 219

  • 12^th Pass – 100

  • 10^th Pass – 83

  • 8^th Pass — 31

  • 5^th Pass — 5

  • Simple Literates — 30

Candidates with criminal records in the second phase: 142.

Candidates facing serious criminal cases related to murder, attempt to murder, Kidnapping, crimes against women, causing communal disharmony, etc. — 110

Number of candidates facing murder charges: 11

• Candidates with largest number of murder charges: BSP’s Ramendra Ram from Chenari (SC) constituency faces two murder cases. Two candidates of Garib Janata (Secular) and one each of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (CPI-ML (L)), Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, RJD and five Independent candidates face murder charges.

• Number of candidates facing attempt to murder charges: 36 CPI (ML-L)’s candidate Munna Ram contesting from Mohania faces four charges; Bahujan Samaj Party’s Ramendra Ram from Chenari (SC) constituency and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)’s Prabhat Kumar Ranjan of from Ghosi constituency face three attempt to murder charges, each. Four CPI (ML-L) candidates face attempt to murder charges as against the BSP’s three candidates. Twelve independent candidates, too, face attempt to murder charges.

• Number of candidates with records of crime against women – 6

• Candidates facing charges of causing communal disharmony – 2

• Candidates with charges of robbery and dacoity – 4

• Candidates with charges of kidnapping – 5

• Candidates with charges of kidnapping for ransom – 3

Constituency having largest number of candidates with criminal charges against them – Aurangabad.

Some Interesting facts: In 2010, the JD (U), and alliance partner of the BJP then, had won 18 seats. Whether the JD (U)’s impressive showing was because of the transfer of the BJP votes to it, will be decided this time when the BJP actually is contesting against the JD (U).

About one-third of the candidates for the second-phase of the Bihar assembly polls face criminal cases. In all 23 constituencies in the second phase, there are three or more candidates with declared criminal cases.

Candidate to watch in the second phase: Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate from Gaya, Dr. Prem Kumar is seeking reelection for the seventh consecutive time. He faces opposition from Congress’s Priya Ranjan alias Dimple. A prominent leader of the Extremely Backward Class, Dr. Kumar is a strong contender for the state chief minister’s post.

Key constituencies in the second phase:

Makhdumpur and Imamganj constituencies

The Hindustani Awam Morcha’s chief Jitan Ram Manjhi is contesting from these two assembly constituencies. At Makhdumpur, he is pitted against Subedar Das of RJD. At Imamganj, he gets stiff resistance from JD (U)’s Uday Narayan Chaudhary, who was the speaker of the state Assembly.

Gaya

Six-time MLA and BJP stalwart Dr. Prem Kumar is seeking reelection from Gaya. Recently, he gained prominence when BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said he was the party’s CM face. A day later, leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, too, reportedly made a similar claim only to deny it later.

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