A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms and Bihar Election Watch has raised concerns over the composition of the Bihar cabinet, showing that nearly half of the ministers analysed have criminal cases against them, while 90 per cent are crorepatis and women account for only a small share of the council of ministers.
Criminal Cases Against Nearly Half the Ministers
The report came after the reconstitution of the Bihar cabinet, in which new ministers were inducted on May 7. According to the findings, criminal cases are registered against 15 of the 31 ministers analysed, which works out to 48 per cent of the cabinet members covered in the study.
Out of these, nine ministers face serious criminal charges. The report describes these as grave offences, including allegations linked to corruption, violence and embezzlement. The findings were compiled by ADR and Bihar Election Watch, both of which analyse public information relating to political representatives.
The report also noted that the data of four ministers could not be analysed. Two of them, Ashok Choudhary and Pramod Kumar, are members of the Legislative Council and had not submitted affidavits. Details of two other ministers were not available because they are not yet members of the Legislative Assembly.
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Most Ministers Are Crorepatis
The report found that 28 of the 31 ministers analysed are crorepatis, placing the proportion at about 90 per cent. It said the average assets of these 28 ministers stand at Rs 6.32 crore.
Among the ministers analysed, the richest is Reza Niyaz, with assets worth Rs 31.86 crore. The report said the minister with the lowest declared assets is Sanjay Kumar, who has Rs 22.30 lakh.
These figures, according to the report, reflect the financial profile of the present cabinet and underline the concentration of wealth among a large majority of those in the council of ministers.
Women’s Representation Remains Limited
The report also pointed to the limited presence of women in the Bihar cabinet. Out of 35 ministers, only five are women, which comes to 14 per cent. That means 86 per cent of the ministers are men.
On education, the report said eight ministers have studied between Class 10 and Class 12, while 22 are graduates or have qualifications above that level. One minister holds a diploma.
On age profile, six ministers are between 30 and 50 years old, while 25 fall in the 51 to 80 age bracket. Taken together, the report presents a picture of a cabinet marked by significant wealth, a notable share of ministers facing criminal cases, and limited representation of women.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
