X: @the_news_21
As the high-stakes Lok Sabha election gets underway with the first phase on April 19th, an analysis by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed some fascinating insights about the candidates in the fray.
The richest candidate contesting in the opening phase is Congress MP Nakul Nath, son of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, with declared assets worth a staggering Rs 717 crore. Rumors were rife that the Naths would ditch the Congress for the BJP, but those talks seemingly fell through.
Of the top 10 wealthiest candidates in phase one, half hail from Tamil Nadu, reflecting the southern state’s economic muscle. The BJP has the most crorepati candidates with 4 out of the 10 names.
At the other end of the spectrum is Ponraj K, an independent from Thoothukkudi in Tamil Nadu, declaring total assets of just Rs 320 – the lowest among phase one candidates with non-zero assets.
The analysis also exposes the criminalization of politics, with several candidates having declared criminal cases against them. A shocking 100% of RJD candidates, 59% from DMK, 43% from SP, 40% from AITC, 36% each from BJP and AIADMK, and 34% from Congress have criminal cases pending.
When it comes to wealthy candidates, RJD tops the list with all 4 candidates being crorepatis, followed by AIADMK (97%), DMK (96%), BJP (90%), Congress (88%), AITC (80%), while only 21% of analyzed BSP candidates are crorepatis.
With six more phases to go before the final counting on June 4th, these revelations are just the tip of the iceberg as India’s electorate prepares to welcome a new government.
