Article Today, Patna:
The Bihar Assembly elections have once again highlighted the widening economic divide among political contestants. According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch, nearly 42 per cent of the total 2,600 candidates contesting the 243 Assembly seats are crorepatis. The average asset value of candidates has doubled since the 2020 elections, rising from Rs. 1.72 crore to Rs. 3.35 crore in 2025.
Richest Candidate Declares Rs. 373 crore
Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) candidate Raan Kaushal Pratap Singh, also known as Guddu Singh, has emerged as the richest candidate in the fray. Contesting from the Lauria constituency in West Champaran district, he has declared assets worth Rs. 373 crore. His spouse has additional assets of Rs. 131 crore. The family reportedly owns 3.4 kilograms of gold and seven luxury vehicles. In the first phase, BJP’s Kumar Pranay from Munger declared Rs. 170 crore, while RLJP candidate Nitish Kumar from Gaya disclosed assets worth Rs. 250 crore. Independent candidate Raj Kishore Gupta from Maharajganj and JD(U)’s Anant Kumar Singh from Mokama have declared Rs. 137 crore and Rs. 100 crore respectively.
Poorest Candidates Stand Out
At the other end of the spectrum, several candidates have declared minimal or no assets. BSP candidate Sunil Kumar Choudhary from Pirpainti declared zero assets, making him the poorest among all contestants. SUCI(C) candidate Mojahid Alam from Darbhanga reported assets of only Rs. 1,000, while Suresh Rajvanshi of the Moolnivasi Samaj Party contesting from Wazirganj declared assets worth Rs. 1,100. Analysts say these stark differences reflect the socio-economic imbalance within Bihar’s political landscape.
Two-Phase Polling Schedule
Polling for Bihar’s 243 Assembly constituencies will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will cover 121 seats on November 6, while the second phase for the remaining 122 seats will be held on November 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14.
Report Based on Affidavits
The ADR and Bihar Election Watch compiled this analysis using self-declared affidavits submitted by the candidates. The report covers contestants from national, state, and independent categories. It highlights a clear increase in wealth concentration among political aspirants compared to previous elections.
A Reflection of Deeper Inequality
Observers note that the growing number of wealthy candidates underscores the rising cost of electoral politics in Bihar. While affluent contestants dominate the fray, a handful of candidates with negligible assets continue to symbolize the socio-economic disparities of the State. The findings suggest that economic power remains a decisive factor in shaping electoral competition.
