As many as 139 candidates figuring in the fifth phase of Bihar assembly elections have criminal charges pending against them.
35 assembly constituencies will go to poll in the fifth phase on November nine.
This was found after examining 441 affidavits of the candidates, Kumar Anjesh, state coordinator of NGO ‘National Watch,’ told reporters here.
Of 139 contestants, 75 were facing serious criminal charges like murder and attempt to murder, he said.
Claiming that all major parties have given tickets to candidates with pending criminal cases, Anjesh said the RJD topped the list with 65 per cent followed by JD(U) (59 per cent), BJP (54 per cent), Congress (40 per cent), BSP (40 per cent) and LJP (33 per cent).
Three to four women too figured in the list of the candidates with criminal antecedents contesting the elections in the fifth phase, he added.