43% of the candidates in the second phase of Bihar elections 2025 are crorepatis. According to the ADR report, out of 1302 candidates, 562 have assets of more than Rs 1 crore. 100% of the candidates in Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) are crorepatis.
Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 is now at its crucial juncture. The second phase of voting will be held on November 11, where the public will decide the fate of 1302 candidates on 122 assembly seats in 20 districts. About 3 crore 70 lakh voters will exercise their right in this phase. But the financial figures of the candidates contesting in the election arena are shocking, which clearly shows the increasing ‘money power’ in the politics of Bihar.
43% candidates are millionaires, every other candidate is ‘wealthy’
According to the report of Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), out of 1297 candidates contesting in the second phase, 562 (about 43%) are crorepatis. That is, on an average, one out of every two-three candidates is a crorepati. The average assets of these candidates comes to around ₹3.44 crore.
562 candidates millionaire
- Assets worth Rs 10 crore or more: 98 candidates (7.6%)
- Assets worth Rs 1 to 5 crore: 364 candidates (28.1%)
- More than Rs 1 Crore (Total Crorepatis): 562 candidates (43%)
- Assets less than Rs 20 lakh: 361 candidates (27.8%)
Chirag Paswan left JDU-BJP behind
Interestingly, NDA allies have left even the main parties behind in giving tickets to crorepati candidates. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President Chirag Paswan has made a record in this matter.
- LJP (Ram Vilas) – Percentage of Crorepati candidates: 100% (15 out of 15)
- Total Crorepati Candidates: 15
- Average wealth: ₹14.98 crore
- JDU – Percentage of Crorepati candidates: 91% (40 out of 44)
- Total Crorepati Candidates: 40
- Average wealth: ₹9.18 crore
- Congress – Percentage of Crorepati candidates: 84% (31 out of 37)
- Total crorepati candidates: 31
- Average wealth: ₹7.41 crore
- RJD – Percentage of Crorepati candidates: 84% (59 out of 70)
- Total crorepati candidates: 59
- Average wealth: ₹6.49 crore
- BJP – Percentage of Crorepati candidates: 83% (44 out of 53)
- Total Crorepati Candidates: 44
- Average wealth: ₹6.40 crore
It is clear from the data that the percentage of crorepati candidates in Chirag Paswan’s party (100%) is more than Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party BJP (83%) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s party JDU (91%). The average assets of LJP (Ram Vilas) candidates is also the highest among all major parties at ₹14.98 crore.
Importance of ‘money power’ even in small parties
The importance of ‘financial strength’ in Bihar politics is no longer limited to just the main parties. Rich candidates have been given tickets even in small parties.
- Jan Suraj Party: 86 out of 117 candidates (74%) are crorepatis.
- BSP: 30 out of 91 candidates (33%) are crorepatis.
- You: 13 out of 39 candidates (33%) crorepatis.
3 out of 6 (50%) candidates of CPI (ML) and 2 out of 4 (50%) candidates of CPI are also crorepatis, which shows that due to the increasing scale of election expenditure, ‘money power’ has now become an inevitable condition of electoral success along with ideology.
Although, who will be given a chance by the public will be decided by the results of 14th November, but this election report definitely raises the question that in a state like Bihar, where poverty and unemployment are the main issues, how justified is the dominance of the rich in the electoral field.