
80% of new MPs from Bihar named in criminal cases
The number of crorepatis as well as those having declared criminal cases as per their own affidavits witnessed an increase among the new lot of members of Parliament elected from Bihar.
However, despite the increase in the number of crorepati winners, the richest candidate in the fray — richest not just in Bihar, but in India — with assets of more than Rs 1,107 crore could not even save his deposit. Ramesh Kumar Sharma, who fought as an independent candidate from the Pataliputra seat, got only 1,558 votes and finished 22nd among 26 candidates.
According to a study conducted by the Bihar Election Watch and Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), out of 40 candidates, 39 candidates were analysed and 32 of them were found to have criminal cases, while 22 have declared serious criminal cases against them. BJP’S Sasaram candidate and winner Chedi Paswan’s data could not analysed.

In the 16th Lok Sabha, 28 of the 40 MPs from Bihar had criminal cases filed against them, while 20 of them faced serious cases. Similarly, in the present Bihar legislative assembly, 141 out of 243 members have declared criminal cases against them.
The Supreme Court had last year in a judgment asked for greater accountability from political parties to check the problem of criminalisation of politics. It had suggested that candidates and parties publicise pending criminal cases so that it could come in the public domain and help voters make informed choice.
As per the Election Commision provision, candidates facing even one criminal case of any nature were required to make declarations through advertisements at least three times. It was also obligatory for the political parties to do the same three times about candidates with criminal antecedents contesting on their symbol at their own cost. However, none of this was fully complied with, apparently.
Bihar chief electoral officer HR Srinivasan said that information had been sought from the district authorities regarding compliance with the EC provision. “As per reports, some candidates have done it, others have not. Once we get all the details, we will report it to the EC for further guidelines,” he added.

Cong MLA gives 48-hr time to catch nephew’s killers; kin blame security removal
- Sasaram SP said he met the bereaved family and posted security guards at their house. Meanwhile, raids were being carried out to arrest the absconding accused.

Bihar politician kidnapped in Patna, rescued from Sasaram a day later
- Pandey was kidnapped when he left his party’s Kidwaipuri office after attending a meeting at around 6pm on Sunday.

Acute shortage of IAS officers in Bihar, many to retire this year
- Presently, the state has just 202 IAS officers against the sanctioned strength of 359.

Bihar: Offline primary classes resume from March 1, parents still reluctant
- Several schools will not reopen just yet; they are planning to conduct online examinations and commence regular classes for primary students from the next academic session.

Bihar social welfare dept seeks differently-abled friendly highways, underpasses
- For persons with special ability, especially wheelchair bound ‘Divyaangs’, using the underpass is difficult as well as dangerous. Even normal people do not find most of the underpasses smooth and convenient, said an official.

10-yr-old boy beaten to death on suspicion of mobile theft in Bihar

'Example of self-reliance': PM Modi hails migrant worker's journey to becoming f
- Baitha utilised the pandemic as an opportunity to turn into an entrepreneur and set up an LED bulb manufacturing unit in his village.

Primary classes to begin from tomorrow in Bihar: All you need to know

Arun Kumar Singh takes charge as Bihar chief secretary

Bihar to deploy trained doctors and nurses to tackle AES this year
- A massive awareness program about the disease in the worst affected areas will also be launched.

Manufacturing hub at Dobhi in Gaya along Amirtsar-Delhi-Kolkata freight corridor
- The advantage of the site at Dobhi is its proximity to the upcoming eastern freight dedicated corridor passing through Gaya and the Kolkata-Delhi national highway.

Temperature soars to nearly 34°C in Gaya, Bihar as summer knocks early
- Usually mercury above 30°C is recorded in March, but this year the mercury has exceeded the normal temperature in February-end itself, said a weather department official.

Congress MLA’s nephew shot dead at Bihar home, 4th murder in the family
- Sanjeev was the 4 family member to be murdered in the last 20 years. His father Mahendra alias Gumti Mishra, uncle Chandrama Mishra and grandfather Pt Kamta Prasad Mishra, had all been shot dead in Parsathua market.

Bihar to begin registration for 3rd phase of Covid-19 vaccination from March 1
- Those who fail to turn up for vaccination after registration will have the option to re-register after cancelling the previous one.

CM Nitish Kumar bats for judiciary’s role in establishing rule of law in Bihar
- Kumar had earlier in his address referred to the Patna HC’s endeavour in 2006, soon after he took over the reins of the state, to help establish the rule of law by ensuring speedy trials so that wrongdoers could get punishment.