May 18th 2024.
The third phase of Assembly elections in Odisha is set to take place on May 25, with a total of 126 candidates vying for seats. Among them, BJD candidate Sanatan Mahakud from the Champua segment stands out as the wealthiest, with assets worth Rs 227.67 crore. This phase will cover constituencies in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Puri, and Sambalpur, as well as 42 Assembly seats under these Lok Sabha segments.
According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Odisha Election Watch, out of the 381 candidates analyzed, 126 of them are 'crorepatis'. The second richest candidate is Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, an independent candidate from Ghasipura, with assets worth Rs 122.86 crore. Following closely behind is Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh, the BJP candidate from Nayagarh Assembly segment, who declared a total of Rs 120.56 crore in assets.
The report also sheds light on the influence of money power in elections, with all major political parties fielding wealthy candidates. Out of the 42 candidates analyzed from BJD, 36 of them are worth more than Rs 1 crore, followed by 29 from Congress, 28 from BJP, and four from AAP. The average assets per candidate in the Odisha Assembly elections of 2024 is Rs 3.47 crore.
Interestingly, there are also a few candidates with relatively low assets, such as Kailash Chandra Nayak from Baramba, Sukanta Ghadai from Brahmagiri, and Gopinath Nayak from Bhubaneswar North. They have assets worth only a few lakhs or less, according to their self-sworn affidavits.
The report also highlights the criminal records of the candidates, with 100 out of 381 having criminal cases against them. Out of these, 86 have serious criminal charges. Among the major parties, BJP has the highest number of candidates with serious criminal cases, followed by CPI, Congress, and BJD.
In terms of education, 155 candidates have completed their education up to 12th standard, while 210 have a graduate or higher degree. There are also 12 candidates with a diploma, two who are just literate, and two who are illiterate.
As the people of Odisha gear up to cast their votes, these details provide valuable insight into the candidates who are vying for their trust and support. It is important for voters to carefully consider these factors before making their decision at the polls.
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