Criminal Cases and Crorepatis: Barak Valley Stands Out In Assam Polls, Says ADR

Barak Valley has emerged as a politically sensitive zone in the Assam Assembly Elections 2026, with multiple constituencies flagged for a high number of candidates with criminal cases and a sharp contrast in the financial profiles of contestants, according to a report released on March 31 by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The ADR analysis ahead of Assam Polls, based on affidavits of 722 candidates, identifies three constituencies from the Barak Valley—Sonai (Cachar), Algapur-Katlicherra (Hailakandi), and Karimganj South (Sribhumi)—as “Red Alert Constituencies”, each having three or more candidates with declared criminal cases. Sonai and Algapur-Katlicherra recorded four candidates each with criminal cases, while Karimganj South had three such candidates.

Across Assam, only 8 out of 126 constituencies (6%) fall under this category, indicating that Barak Valley accounts for a significant share of these high-risk seats.

The report further highlights that the presence of candidates with criminal cases in Barak Valley is not limited to any single political party, with nominees from the Congress, AIUDF, AGP, and Independents all featuring in the list. This mirrors the broader state trend, where 14% of candidates have declared criminal cases and 11% face serious charges.

On the financial front, the Valley presents a striking contrast. Rahul Roy, the Congress candidate from Hailakandi, is the richest candidate in the state with declared assets exceeding Rs. 261 crore, placing him at the top of the wealth chart.

In sharp contrast, several candidates from the same district have declared negligible or zero assets. Independent candidates such as Dhrubo Chakraborty and Jibon Roy reported nil assets, while others listed assets as low as a few hundred rupees.

This kind of disparity shows how elections are being contested by both extremely wealthy and economically modest candidates side by side, the report suggests, pointing to the growing role of money power in elections.

Statewide, 39% of candidates are crorepatis, with the average assets per candidate standing at Rs. 3.25 crore, up from Rs. 2.10 crore in 2021. However, the concentration of both high-value and extremely low-value asset declarations within Hailakandi stands out even in comparison to other districts.

The ADR report also notes that major political parties across Assam have continued to field candidates with criminal backgrounds, despite Supreme Court directives aimed at curbing such practices. Parties have fielded between 9% to 37% candidates with criminal cases, reflecting little change from previous elections.

Overall, while issues of criminalisation and wealth concentration are evident across Assam, the Barak Valley stands out for its cluster of red-alert constituencies and extreme financial disparity among candidates, making it a key region to watch in the upcoming polls.