The number of millionaires in Bihar politics has grown rapidly over the last two decades. In 2005, only 58 wealthy candidates contested the assembly elections. By 2010, the number rose to 247, but only 44 managed to win. In 2015, 162 out of 876 millionaire candidates became MLAs, and in 2020, 194 out of 1,230 rich contestants entered the Bihar Assembly. This steady rise shows how wealth has become a key factor in Bihar’s political journey.
In regions like Kosi-Seemanchal and eastern Bihar, millionaire MLAs increased from just two in 2005 to 43 in 2020. Experts say that politics has now turned into a business rather than public service. Sociologist Dr. A.K. Singh believes politics has become a “status symbol,” while Professor Vivek Kumar Hind notes that no one spends millions for social work anymore. Money, caste, and criminal background now often decide who wins elections.
