GUWAHATI: As many as 102 of the 722 candidates, who are going to contest in the Assam Legislative Assembly election 2026, have criminal cases against them. Of the 102 candidates with criminal cases, 82 candidates have serious criminal cases. This election in the state has 285 ‘crorepati’ candidates.
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) today published its report, Assam Election Watch: an analysis of criminal background, financial, educational, gender and other details of candidates.
According to ADR
(i)Candidates with criminal cases: Out of the 722 candidates analysed in the Assam Assembly elections 2026, 102 (14%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. In the 2021 Assam Assembly Elections, out of 941 candidates analysed, 138 (15%) had declared criminal cases against themselves.
(ii) Candidates with serious criminal cases: 82 (11%) have declared serious criminal cases in the 2026 election. In the 2021 Assam Assembly Elections, 109 (12%) candidates had declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
(iii) Party-wise candidates with criminal cases: Among the major parties, 28 (28%) out of 99 candidates analysed from INC, 8 (9%) out of 90 candidates analysed from BJP, 11 (37%) out of 30 candidates analysed from AIUDF, 6 (23%) out of 26 candidates analysed from Asom Gana Parishad, 2 (15%) out of 13 candidates analysed from Raijor Dal, 2 (20%) out of 10 candidates analysed from Assam Jatiya Parishad and 1 (33%) out of 3 candidates analysed from CPI(ML)(L) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
(iv) Party-wise candidates with serious criminal cases: Among the major parties, 20 (20%) out of 99 candidates analysed from INC, 8 (9%) out of 90 candidates analysed from BJP, 9 (30%) out of 30 candidates analysed from AIUDF, 5 (19%) out of 26 candidates analysed from Asom Gana Parishad, 2 (15%) out of 13 candidates analysed from Raijor Dal, 1 (10%) out of 10 candidates analysed from Assam Jatiya Parishad and 1 (33%) out of 3 candidates analysed from CPI(ML)(L) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
According to the ADR, the directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in the selection of candidates in the Assam Assembly Elections 2026, as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 14% of candidates with criminal cases. All major parties contesting in the Assam Assembly Elections 2026 have given tickets to 9% to 37% of candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves. The Supreme Court, in its directions dated 13th February, 2020, had specifically instructed political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates.
Crorepati candidates: Out of the 722 candidates analysed, 285 (39%) are crorepatis in the 2026 Assembly election. In the 2021 Assam Assembly elections, out of 941 candidates, 264 (28%) were crorepatis.
(i) Party-wise crorepati candidates: The role of money power in elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates. Among the major parties, 79 (88%) out of 90 candidates analysed from BJP, 60 (61%) out of 99 candidates analysed from INC, 16 (53%) out of 30 candidates analysed from AIUDF, 18 (69%) out of 26 candidates analysed from Asom Gana Parishad, 10 (56%) out of 18 candidates analysed from United Peoples Party Liberal, 6 (46%) out of 13 candidates analysed from Raijor Dal, 9 (82%) out of 11 candidates analysed from Bodoland Peoples Front, 7 (70%) out of 10 candidates analysed from Assam Jatiya Parishad, 2 (100%) out of 2 candidates analysed from CPI(M) and 1 (33%) out of 3 candidates analysed from CPI(ML)(L) have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.
(ii) Total assets of candidates: The total assets of 722 candidates are Rs. 2,352 crore.
(iii) Average assets: The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Assam Assembly Elections 2026 is Rs 3.25 crore. In the 2021 Assam Assembly elections, the average assets per candidate for 941 candidates were Rs 2.10 crore.
(iv) Party-wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 99 INC candidates analysed is Rs 6.92 crore; for 90 BJP candidates analysed, it is Rs 7.01 crore; 30 AIUDF candidates have average assets of Rs 9.88 crore; 26 Asom Gana Parishad candidates have average assets of Rs 3.38 crore; 18 United Peoples Party Liberal candidates have average assets of Rs 1.86 crore; 13 Raijor Dal candidates have average assets of Rs 1.04 crore; 11 Bodoland Peoples Front candidates have average assets of Rs 9.33 crore; 10 Assam Jatiya Parishad candidates have average assets of Rs 5.46 crore; 3 CPI(ML)(L) candidates have average assets of Rs 66.76 lakh; and 2 CPI(M) candidates have average assets worth Rs 1.67 crore.
The details of the top 3 candidates with the highest declared assets, contesting in the Assam Assembly Elections 2026, are given below:
(i)Rahul Roy, Hailakandi LAC (INC): movable assets Rs 9,39,32,550; immovable assets Rs 2,51,85,99,325; and total assets Rs 261 crore plus.
(ii) Mohammed Badruddin Ajmal, Binnakandi LAC (All India United Democratic Front): movable assets Rs 52,74,39,350; immovable assets Rs 1,73,56,61,230; and total assets Rs 226 crore+.
(iii) Jayanta Khaund, Rongonadi LAC (INC): movable assets Rs 53,69,62,921; immovable assets Rs 14,05,00,000; and total assets Rs 67 crore+.
Candidates with the highest liabilities: 343 (48%) candidates have declared liabilities in their affidavits. The details of the top three candidates with the highest liabilities are given below:
(i)Jayanta Khaund, Rongonadi LAC (INC): Total assets Rs 67 crore+ and liabilities Rs 39 crore+.
(ii) Nandigiri Bhuyan, Sissiborgaon LAC (IND): Total assets Rs 47 crore+ and liabilities Rs 27 crore+.
(iii) Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Jalukbari LAC (BJP): Total assets Rs 35 crore+ and liabilities Rs 16 crore+.
Education details of candidates: 323 (45%) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard, while 384 (53%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above in this Assembly election. Twelve candidates are diploma holders. 3 candidates have declared themselves to be just literate.
Age details of candidates: 174 (24%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 40 years, while 435 (60%) candidates have declared their age to be between 41 and 60 years in this Assembly election. There are 113 (16%) candidates who have declared their age to be between 61 and 80 years.
Gender details of candidates: 60 (8%) female candidates are contesting in the Assam Assembly Elections 2026. In the 2021 Assam Assembly elections, 76 (8%) out of 941 candidates analysed were women.
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) is an Indian non-partisan, non-governmental organisation established in 1999 that works to strengthen democracy and improve governance. It focuses on electoral and political reforms, specifically targeting corruption, criminalising politics, and increasing transparency in the functioning of political parties.
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