India, Oct. 13 -- According to the ADR, a staggering 158 MLAs (66%) have declared criminal cases against themselves. More alarmingly, 119 MLAs (49%) face serious criminal charges, including murder, attempted murder, and crimes against women.

It is a story of India's fraying democratic fabric. A new report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch has laid bare some disturbing criminal and financial details about Bihar's sitting MLAs, highlighting a political system where crime, wealth, and power go hand in hand.

Consider this: Out of 241 sitting MLAs analysed from Bihar's 243-member Assembly, a staggering 158 MLAs (66%) have declared criminal cases against themselves. More alarmingly, 119 MLAs (49%) face s...