Jharkhand beats Bihar and Congress beats BJP

Jharkhand’s edge over Bihar...

Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI, April 28: Leaving Bihar behind, Jharkhand now has the highest percentage of Lok Sabha (LS) candidates with a criminal background, at least in the first three phases of elections. Of the 51 candidates contesting from Jharkhand, 30 per cent have criminal cases against them. The percentage of such candidates in Bihar is 27.13 per cent which is the second highest and it is followed by Maharashtra ( 17.84 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (17.30 per cent).
As per the figures released by National Election Watch (NEW), of the 5573 candidates in the fray in the first three phases of LS elections, 909 (16.3 per cent) have criminal cases against them. Of these, 401 are charged with heinous crimes.
In terms of number, Bihar has the highest (175) of such candidates and is followed by Maharashtra (144) and Uttar Pradesh (122). All major political parties have fielded candidates with criminal records, with Congress having 100 such candidates, BJP (98), BSP (88) and SP (39).
Among those charged with heinous crimes, the Congress has 36 such candidates, BJP is next with 35, BSP with 32 and SP (25).
The number of crorepatis in all phases so far is 862 (15.5%) with Congress topping the list with 202 candidates. It is followed by BJP with 139, BSP with 95 and SP with 41. The percentage of contesting crorepatis has increased from 9 per cent in 2004 to 15.5 per cent in 2009. The number of crorepatis in the contest is highest in Maharashtra (139). This is followed by UP (118) and Andhra Pradesh (117).
Among the main political parties, the average asset per candidate for JD(S) and TDP is at 12 crore, Rs 5 crore for NCP, Rs 4.7 crore for Congress, Rs 3 crore for BSP and Rs 2 crore for SP. Despite the high number of rich candidates in this election, 61.5 per cent of them have not furnished their PAN card details.
NEW comprises more than 1,200 NGOs and other organisations working on electoral reforms, improving democracy and governance in India.

We must all stand up and congratulate the Jharkhand government on winning the dubious distinction of having beaten Bihar in the number of criminals contesting the elections and the Congress for beating the BJP.
What a pity?
This was a newly formed state.
They could have started with a clean slate in having a corruption free government.
That was not to be.
They have fallen in the same rut.
All these polticians require to be beaten with hunting whips and bayonets to bring them in line.
They won't do it themselves.
Some external agency will have to do it.
Who?
The people.
Let us be vigilant and not tolerate corruption, no matter from which party.