J&K: 64 crorepatis, 9 facing criminal charges contesting in 3rd phase

Srinagar, Dec 7: 64 crorepatis and nine candidates facing criminal charges are among the 138 in fray in 16 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir which will go to polls in the third phase on December 9.

The sixteen constituencies are spread over three districts of Baramulla, Budgam and Pulwama –all in Kashmir Valley.

The affidavits submitted by the candidates along with their nomination papers suggest that 64 are crorepatis and nine face criminal charges including attempt to murder and assault on a woman. Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the highest number of crorepatis – 14 out of the 16, while the ruling National Conference (NC) has 14.

Congress has nine out of its 15 candidates, while BJP has two out of its eight candidates in the fray.

Among the 54 Independents, 22 (41 per cent) have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore. There are more rich candidates in the third phase (46 per cent) in comparison to the first two phases. In the first phase, there were 46 out of 123 (37 per cent), while in the second phase out of the 175 candidates, 55 (31 per cent) were crorepatis.

The average assets per candidate contesting in the third phase of the elections is Rs 2.59 crore as against Rs 1.38 crore in the first phase and Rs 1.41 crore in the second phase.

Among the major parties, the average assets per candidate for 16 PDP candidates is Rs 5.27 crore, while 16 NC candidates have average assets worth Rs 4.33 crore.

15 Congress candidates have average assets worth Rs 3.48 crore, while eight BJP candidates have average assets of Rs 53.82 lakh.

Ten candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs 10 crore. Shabir Ahmed Mir, an Independent fighting from Gulmarg assembly segment, has the maximum assets worth Rs 43 crore, followed by Uri's sitting legislator and Minister for Health, Taj Mohi-Ud-Din with assets worth over Rs 19 crore and NC's Mohammad Yaqoob Wani from Sangrama with Rs 16 crore. Two candidates, both Independents, - Bashir Ahmad Khan from Khansahib and Ghulam Mohammad Yatoo from Pampore assembly segment – have declared zero assets.

PTI