Bihar Politics: In CM Nitish's grand alliance government, 72 percent ministers tainted, 17 have serious criminal cases registered

Politics has heated up after the news of the warranty in a kidnapping case of Karthik Singh, the Law Minister of the new government of Bihar. Meanwhile, the report of ADR, an organization working for electoral reforms, has come to the fore, in which 72 percent of the ministers of the government have been informed about being accused in some criminal case. According to the report, a total of 23 ministers of the Grand Alliance government are facing criminal cases. Of these, 17 have serious criminal cases registered.

This ADR report has been prepared on the basis of the affidavit given to the Election Commission at the time of Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council elections. In Bihar, now the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has been continuously raising questions about law and order. In such a situation, let us know that the criminal records recorded in the report of the ADR of the ministers made in the cabinet expansion should also make it clear here that the news is being given on the basis of the report of the ADR. It is possible that some of the cases filed in this report are now closed.

After the expansion of the Bihar Council of Ministers, ADR and 'Bihar Election Watch' have analyzed the affidavits filed by 32 out of 33 ministers, including the Chief Minister, during the 2020 assembly elections. According to the ADR report, JDU leader and cabinet minister Ashok Choudhary need not submit his affidavit as he is a nominated member of the Legislative Council, hence his criminal, financial and other details are not publicly available.

According to the report, 23 ministers (72 per cent) have declared criminal cases against themselves while 17 ministers (53 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. At the same time, out of 32 ministers, 27 (84 per cent) are crorepatis. According to this, the minister with the most assets is Sameer Kumar Mahaseth, who represents Madhubani seat. Sameer's assets are worth Rs 24.45 crore. At the same time, the minister with the least assets is Murari Prasad Gautam, whose assets are worth Rs 17.66 lakh. According to the ADR, 8 ministers (25 per cent) have declared their educational qualification between 8th and 12th standard while 24 ministers (75 per cent) have declared their educational qualification as graduation or above.