40 percent candidates in Assam's first phase polls graduates, postgraduates

New Delhi, April 1: Fifty six percent of the 539 candidates in the first phase of Assam assembly elections are Class five to Class 12 passouts while another 40 percent are graduates or postgraduates, as per their declarations on educational qualifications.

Only eight percent of the 539 candidates are women.

According to an analysis done by the Assam Election Watch (AEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), nine candidates have declared themselves literate and one an illiterate.

For the April 4 polling, 64 percent candidates are in the 25-50 age group while 35 percent are between 51 and 80 years of age, a report by the two civil society groups said.

One candidate was above the age of 80, while five have not even mentioned their age, it added.

A total of 1.98 crore voters will exercise their franchise for the 126 assembly seats in two phases on April 4 and April 11.

IANS