KKN Gurugram Desk | As Bihar prepares for its next Legislative Assembly elections in late 2025, public attention is once again turning to the quality and background of the candidates likely to shape the state’s governance. Beyond party affiliations and campaign promises, two metrics have become increasingly significant: the financial wealth of elected representatives and the representation of women in the Assembly.

This detailed review traces the trends in crorepati MLAs (millionaire legislators) and female representation in the Bihar Legislative Assembly from 2005 to 2020, based on post-election data from each cycle. The statistics offer a revealing insight into how money and gender continue to shape Bihar’s political landscape.

Bihar Assembly Election 2005: A Modest Start in Wealth and Gender Representation

The 2005 Bihar Assembly election, conducted in four phases, saw a political shift with the NDA alliance (JD(U)-BJP) coming to power. A total of 2,135 candidates contested across 243 seats, of which only 136 were women—just 7% of all candidates.

Despite the low financial disclosures at the time, only 8 legislators (3%) were crorepatis, reflecting a modest economic profile for most MLAs.

• Average assets of winning candidates were around ₹27 lakh.

• JDU legislators had the highest average wealth at ₹34 lakh.

• The richest MLA was Raju Kumar Singh of JD(U), representing Sahabganj, with declared assets exceeding ₹6.11 crore.

• Among women, 35 MLAs (14%) were elected, showing slightly better representation than the candidate ratio.

This period marked the beginning of a trend where money and political success would become more closely intertwined.

Bihar Assembly Election 2010: A Surge in Both Candidates and Crorepatis

By 2010, the Bihar elections witnessed a significant increase in political participation. 3,523 candidates contested, a 65% rise from 2005. The number of women candidates also increased to 308, but only 34 were elected, keeping female representation stagnant at 14%.

More significantly, the number of crorepati MLAs jumped to 48 (19%), signaling a clear rise in the role of wealth in electoral success.

• Average asset value rose to ₹81 lakh, nearly three times higher than in 2005.

• RJD legislators topped the average wealth chart with assets nearing ₹1 crore.

• The richest MLA was Dr. Faiyaz Ahmad from Bisfi (RJD) with assets over ₹15 crore.

• JDU dominated the Top 10 richest list, with 6 members, followed by BJP and RJD.

The 2010 election marked the beginning of a visible correlation between personal wealth and electoral outcomes in Bihar.

Bihar Assembly Election 2015: Political Wealth Multiplies, Gender Gains Stagnate

In 2015, the political landscape became even more complex with 3,450 candidates representing 158 political parties and numerous independents.

Despite the high number of candidates, only 273 were women (8%), and just 28 won, reducing women’s representation in the Assembly to 12%.

However, the most striking development was the massive increase in wealth among MLAs:

• 160 MLAs (67%) were crorepatis.

• Average declared assets skyrocketed to ₹3.06 crore—four times higher than in 2010.

• Congress MLAs had the highest average assets at ₹4.36 crore, followed by RJD and JD(U).

• The richest MLA was Poonam Devi Yadav from JD(U), elected from Khagaria, with declared assets over ₹41 crore.

• Ajit Sharma from Congress followed with ₹40 crore, and independent Anant Singh was third with ₹28 crore.

Among the Top 10 richest MLAs, the representation was spread across JD(U), RJD, Congress, BJP, and independents.

This period cemented Bihar’s transition into a political arena heavily influenced by financial capital, while the representation of women remained largely static.

Bihar Assembly Election 2020: 81% Crorepati MLAs and Lowest Female Representation in 15 Years

The most recent Bihar election, held in 2020, saw 3,733 candidates contesting the polls, including 370 women (9.91%). However, only 26 women were elected, bringing the female representation down to just 11%—the lowest since 2005.

In sharp contrast, the financial profile of the Assembly reached new highs:

• 194 MLAs (81%) were crorepatis—the highest in state history.

• Average declared assets touched ₹4.32 crore, showing a consistent upward trend.

• RJD MLAs were the wealthiest, with average assets at ₹5.92 crore, followed by Congress (₹5.18 crore), JD(U) (₹4.17 crore), and BJP (₹3.56 crore).

• Anant Kumar Singh, RJD’s MLA from Mokama, declared ₹68 crore in assets—₹40 crore more than his previous term.

• Ajit Sharma of Congress stood second with over ₹43 crore, followed by Vibha Devi (RJD) with ₹29 crore.

Among the Top 10 richest MLAs, six were from RJD, with others representing JD(U), Congress, and BJP.

These numbers indicate a consolidation of political power among the financially elite, even as women’s representation fell to its lowest in recent memory.

Political Analysis: What These Trends Reveal About Bihar’s Democracy

The last 15 years in Bihar’s political history tell a dual story:

1. Money Power Has Risen Exponentially

   • From just 8 crorepati MLAs in 2005 to 194 in 2020, the influence of wealth in Bihar politics has expanded significantly.

   • Average assets have increased over 16-fold, reflecting how election campaigns have become more capital-intensive.

   • Political parties across the board are fielding wealthier candidates, indicating a possible shift in candidate selection criteria.

2. Women Remain Grossly Underrepresented

   • Despite marginal increases in candidates, the number of women actually elected has declined in absolute and percentage terms.

   • This trend is worrying in a state where women have been pivotal voters and often lead social reforms.

These developments underscore a deepening imbalance in Bihar’s representative democracy. While financial elites increasingly dominate legislative politics, half the population—women—remain largely excluded.

Implications for 2025 Bihar Assembly Election

With elections approaching in late 2025, these historical trends offer important takeaways:

• For Voters: Transparency about candidates’ wealth and criminal background should remain a critical filter during voting decisions.

• For Political Parties: There is an urgent need to field more female candidates and ensure equitable representation.

• For Election Commission & Civil Society: Stronger campaign finance regulations and candidate vetting processes may be necessary to preserve democratic integrity.

If current trends continue, Bihar may witness an Assembly where almost every legislator is a crorepati, while female participation may slip further unless systemic interventions are made.

The journey of Bihar’s legislative makeup from 2005 to 2020 highlights how economic power increasingly dictates political success, even as gender diversity regresses.

While financial self-sufficiency in politics is not inherently negative, it becomes problematic when it excludes capable candidates from modest backgrounds or sidelines essential representation, especially of women.

For Bihar to progress toward inclusive and representative governance, both voters and political parties must reevaluate their priorities. Otherwise, elections may become a playground only for the rich—while the real aspirations of the public remain unheard in the Assembly halls.