Chhattisgarh Polls: 46 Crorepati Candidates In Fray for Phase-I

In Chhattisgarh assembly elections 2023, the first phase will see 46 candidates with assets exceeding one crore rupees, with the Aam Aadmi Party's Khadgraj Singh leading the pack with assets totaling over 40 crore rupees. As reported by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Chhattisgarh Election Watch, the average assets of candidates participating in the initial phase of the assembly elections are approximately 1.34 crore rupees.

Out of the 223 candidates contesting in the initial phase on November 7, 46 are classified as 'crorepatis,' according to the report. Among candidates from major political parties, the average assets of 20 BJP candidates analyzed stand at around 5.33 crore rupees, followed closely by 20 Congress candidates with average assets of approximately 5.27 crore rupees. Additionally, 10 AAP candidates possess assets valued at around 4.45 crore rupees, while 15 candidates from the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) have an average asset value of about 30.54 lakh rupees.

The first phase of the elections will encompass 20 out of the total 90 assembly constituencies on November 7, with the remaining 70 constituencies conducting voting on November 17.

According to the report, the three candidates with the highest declared assets are AAP's Khadgraj Singh, hailing from the erstwhile royal family and contesting from the Kawardha seat, possessing assets exceeding 40 crore rupees. Following closely is the BJP's Bhawna Bohra from the Pandariya seat with assets exceeding 33 crore rupees, and Congress' Jateen Jaiswal from the Jagdalpur seat with assets exceeding 16 crore rupees.

Conversely, three candidates with the lowest assets include Hem Kumar Satnami, an independent candidate from the Dongargarh (SC) seat with declared assets of 8,000 rupees, Bhartiya Shakti Chetna Party's Narhar Deo Gawde from the Antagarh (ST) seat with assets totaling 10,000 rupees, and Republican Paksha's (Khorpia) Pratima Wasnik from the Rajnandgaon seat, also with assets valued at 10,000 rupees.

Moreover, the Azad Janata Party's Parwati Teta from the Kanker (ST) seat and JCC (J) nominee Nagesh Puram from Mohla-Manpur (ST) have declared zero assets. The Congress' Mohammad Akbar from the Kwardha seat and former Chief Minister and BJP candidate Raman Singh from Rajnandgaon, along with Vikrant Singh from Khairagarh, are the top three candidates who have declared significant incomes in their Income Tax Returns (ITR).

In the ITR, Akbar has reported a total income of more than 1 crore rupees, which includes his own income, that of his spouse, and dependents. This is followed by Vikrant Singh with an income exceeding 63 lakh rupees, and Raman Singh with an income of over 55 lakh rupees.

The report also indicates that out of the 223 candidates, 115 (52 percent) have declared their educational qualifications to be between Class five and 12. On the other hand, 97 (43 percent) of candidates have declared themselves as graduates or possessing higher qualifications. There are five diploma holders and four candidates who have declared themselves as just 'literate.' Furthermore, one candidate has been declared illiterate, while one has not mentioned their educational qualifications.

In the first phase of the polls, 25 women candidates (11 percent), including three from both the Congress and BJP, are contesting, according to the report.