West Bengal polls: Average asset of candidates is Rs 47.88 lakh

Kolkata, March 31: The West Bengal elections which is round the corner will witness a total of 58 candidates with pending criminal cases in two phases. The West Bengal elections is a long drawn affair and hence the analysis of the candidates will be divided into phase 1a and phase 1b in this report.

Criminal background- Phase 1a:

Candidates with criminal cases- Out of all the 133 candidates, 21 (16%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

Candidates with serious criminal cases: 17 (13%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery, crimes against women etc.

Candidates with cases related to murder: 1 candidate namely Shyam Sundar Pandey of CPI(M) from Salboni constituency has declared 2 charges related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302).

Candidates with cases related to attempt to murder: 2 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307). Gobordhan Bagdi of the JMM contesting from Raghunathpur (SC) and Para (SC) constituencies has declared 1 charge related to attempt to murder. Chunibala Hansda, of Jharkhand Party (Naren) from Jhargram constituency has declared 1 charge related to attempt to murder.

Candidates with cases related to crimes against women: 3 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. They are Dhirendra Nath Rajak of AJSU Party from Purulia constituency, Gobordhan Bagdi of the JMM contesting from Raghunathpur (SC) and Para (SC) constituencies and Goutam Kumar Mudi of the SUCI(C) from Ranibandh (ST) constituency.

Candidates with cases related to robbery and dacoity: 1 candidate has declared a charge related to robbery and dacoity namely Gobordhan Bagdi of the JMM contesting from Raghunathpur (SC) and Para (SC) constituencies.

Party wise candidates with criminal cases: 3 (17%) out of 18 candidates from BJP, 2 (11%) out of 18 candidates from AITC, 1 (6%) out of 17 candidates from SUCI (C), 2 (17%) out of 12 candidates fielded by AJSU Party, 1 (9%) out of 11 candidates from CPI(M), 3 (43%) out of 7 candidates of JMM, 2 (40%) out of 5 candidates fielded by INC, and 2 (11%) out of 19 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Party wise Candidates with serious criminal cases: 2 (11%) out of 18 candidates from BJP, 1 (6%) out of 18 candidates from AITC, 1 (6%) out of 17 candidates from SUCI (C), 2 (17%) out of 12 candidates fielded by AJSU Party, 1 (9%) out of 11 candidates from CPI(M), 2 (29%) out of 7 candidates of JMM, 1 (20%) out of 5 candidates fielded by INC, and 2 (11%) out of 19 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Red Alert constituencies: 2 constituencies namely Salboni and Purulia in Phase 1(a) of West Bengal assembly elections have 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases. Red Alert Constituencies are those which have 3 or more candidates with criminal cases contesting elections.

Financial Background- Phase 1a:

Average assets: The average of assets per candidate contesting in Phase 1(a) of the West Bengal Assembly Elections is Rs 47.88 Lakhs.

Party wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 18 BJP candidates is Rs 16.59 Lakhs, 18 AITC candidates have average assets of Rs 2.80 crores, 17 SUCI (C) candidates have average assets worth of Rs 10.15 Lakhs, 5 INC candidates have average assets worth Rs 16.55 Lakhs, 12 AJSU Party candidates have average assets worth of Rs 4.77 Lakhs, average assets of 11 CPI(M) candidates are Rs 33.92 Lakhs, 5 BSP candidates have average assets of Rs 1.80 Lakhs and 19 Independent candidates have average assets of Rs. 6.01 Lakhs.

Zero asset candidate: 1 candidate namely Pabitra Bauri of BSP from Para(SC) constituency has declared Zero assets in his self sworn affidavit.

Low asset candidates: The three candidates with lowest assets excluding the one with zero assets are as follows:

Criminal Background- Phase 1b:

Candidates with criminal cases: Out of all the 163 candidates, 37 (23%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

Candidates with serious criminal cases: 32 (20%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, theft, crimes against women etc.

Candidate with cases related to murder: 1 candidate namely Hemant Prabhakar of CPI(M) from Asansol Dakshin constituency has declared 1 charge related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302).

Candidates with cases related to attempt to murder: 6 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307).

Candidates with cases related to crimes against women: 2 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. They are Santosh Singh of BJP from Jamuria constituency and Amarnath Shaka of BJP from Onda constituency.

Candidate with cases related to robbery and dacoity: 1 candidate has declared a charge related to robbery and dacoity namely Sajal Das an Independent candidate contesting from Kulti constituency.

Party wise candidates with criminal cases: 12 (39%) out of 31 candidates from BJP, 10 (32%) out of 31 candidates from AITC, 7 (37%) out of 19 candidates from CPI(M), 1 (50%) out of 2 candidates of JMM, 3 (38%) out of 8 candidates fielded by INC, and 4 (24%) out of 17 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Party wise Candidates with serious criminal cases: 8 (26%) out of 31 candidates from BJP, 9 (29%) out of 31 candidates from AITC, 7 (37%) out of 19 candidates from CPI (M), 1 (50%) out of 2 candidates of JMM, 3 (38%) out of 8 candidates fielded by INC, and 4 (24%) out of 17 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Red Alert constituencies: 4 constituencies namely Jamuria, Pandabeswar, Indus(SC) and Kulti in Phase 1(b) of West Bengal assembly elections have 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases.

Financial Background- Phase 1b:

Party wise crorepati candidates: 20 or (12%) candidates of the 163 contesting candidates in Phase 1(b) of the West Bengal Assembly Elections have declared assets worth over Rs 1 Crore. 11 (36%) out of 31 candidates from AITC, 4 (13%) out of 31 candidates from the BJP, 3 (38%) out of 8 candidates from the INC and 1 (6%) out of 17 Independent candidates are crorepatis.
·
Average assets: The average of assets per candidate contesting in Phase 1(b) of the West Bengal Assembly Elections is Rs 48.81 Lakhs.

Party wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 31 BJP candidates is Rs 31.09 Lakhs, 31 AITC candidates have average assets of Rs 1.51 crores, 23 SUCI (C) candidates have average assets worth Rs 13.11 Lakhs, 8 INC candidates have average assets worth Rs 1 crore, average assets of 19 CPI(M) candidates are Rs 19.86 Lakhs, 8 BSP candidates have average assets of Rs 66.58 Thousand and 17 Independent candidates have average assets of Rs. 19.05 Lakhs.

OneIndia News