“Money Talks in Politics”
New Delhi: About 39 per cent of candidates contesting in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls are crorepatis, with average assets of Rs 6.21 crore, according to poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Among the candidates contesting on May 25, BJP candidate from Kurukshetra, Naveen Jindal, has declared the highest assets at Rs 1,241 crore, followed by Santrupt Misra with Rs 482 crore and Sushil Gupta with Rs 169 crore.
Out of the 866 candidates in this phase, 338 (39 per cent) are crorepatis, with an average asset value of Rs 6.21 crore per candidate.
Party-Wise Wealth Distribution
- BJP: 48 (94 per cent) out of 51 candidates
- BJD: All six candidates
- RJD and JD(U): Four out of four candidates each
- SP: 11 (92 per cent) out of 12 candidates
- Congress: 20 (80 per cent) out of 25 candidates
- AAP: Four (80 per cent) out of five candidates
- AITC: Seven (78 per cent) out of nine candidates
Lowest Asset Declarations
- Master Randhir Singh: Independent candidate from Rohtak with Rs 2
- Ram Kumar Yadav: SUCI(C) candidate from Pratapgarh with Rs 1,686
Candidates with Liabilities
Approximately 411 (47 per cent) candidates have declared liabilities in their affidavits.
Criminal Cases
- Criminal Cases: 180 (21 per cent) candidates
- Serious Criminal Cases: 141 (16 per cent) candidates
- Convicted Cases: 12 candidates
- Murder Cases (IPC Section 302): Six candidates
- Attempt to Murder (IPC Section 307): 21 candidates
- Crimes Against Women: 24 candidates
- Rape Charges (IPC Section 376): Three candidates
Hate Speech Cases
Sixteen candidates have declared cases related to hate speech.
The ADR report highlights the significant presence of wealthy candidates in the upcoming elections, along with notable instances of declared liabilities and criminal cases among the contestants.
