29% of candidates for LS polls are crorepatis: ADR

NEW DELHI: An analysis of affidavits filed by candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections has shown that the number of crorepati candidates has gone up from the last polls.


The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) analysed affidavits of 7,928 candidates out of the total 8,049 and found that 29% were crorepatis, with 11% or 881candidates having assets worth more than Rs 5 crore. In the 2014 polls, 27% of candidates were crorepatis. National parties led the chart this time, with both Congress and BJP having 83% crorepati candidates. Others like BSP (33%), NCP (59%) and CPM (36%) have equally wealthy candidates.

The highest number of crorepatis candidates is from north-eastern states, with

Arunachal Pradesh

(83%),

Meghalaya

(78%), Mizoram (67%) and

Nagaland

(50%).

This time, the EC had sought declaration of assets, especially immovable assets like property, to be calculated on current prices and not the purchase value.

There are 335 re-contesting candidates this time and their assets increased by an average Rs 6.86 crore, the ADR analysis found.

Among national parties, the highest growth in assets was for recontesting Congress candidates, with an average increase of 102.62%. With 38 candidates in the fray again, the average assets of its candidates was Rs 60 crore. The average assets of BJP’s 170 re-contesting candidates was Rs 17 crore, a growth of 35%. Other parties showing growth are JD(U) at 105%, Jannayak Janta Party (112%), Swabhimani Party (146%) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (340%).

The analysis also showed that more candidates with criminal cases are contesting the Lok Sabha elections. While in 2009 and 2014, the percentage of candidates with criminal cases was 15% and 17% respectively, this time the tally is 19%. Of this, a significant 13% of candidates have serious criminal cases lodged against them.