May 16th 2024.
In the bustling city of Bhubaneswar, the political scene is heating up as the Lok Sabha polls draw nearer. According to a report by the Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms, Biju Janata Dal's Santrupt Misra has emerged as the richest candidate among those vying for a seat in the Lok Sabha, with a total asset of Rs 482.21 crore. This makes him a strong contender in the upcoming May 25 elections in Odisha.
The report analyzed the self-sworn affidavits of all 64 candidates from the six Lok Sabha constituencies that will be going to polls in the third phase. These constituencies include Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Puri, and Sambalpur. Along with these Lok Sabha seats, 42 assembly segments will also be exercising their right to vote on May 25.
Out of the 64 candidates, 28 are crorepatis, with an average asset per candidate of Rs 11.80 crore for the phase-III elections in Odisha. Taking the lead with a whopping total asset of Rs 482.21 crore is BJD's MP candidate for Cuttack, Santrupt Misra. He is followed by Abinash Samal, who is contesting from the Dhenkanal Lok Sabha seat. The third richest candidate is BSP nominee Ram Prasad Hembram from Keonjhar, with a total asset of Rs 35.81 crore.
On the other hand, Union Minister and BJP nominee Dharmendra Pradhan from Sambalpur has declared assets worth Rs 6.92 crore, while BJP candidate from Puri, Sambit Patra, has assets worth Rs 1.98 crore. BJD's Pranab Prakash Das, Arup Mohan Patnaik, and Manmath Kumar Routray have declared assets of Rs 2.30 crore, Rs 22.97 crore, and Rs 15.57 crore, respectively.
However, there are also candidates with relatively low assets, such as Dillip Kumar Baral, an independent candidate from Puri, SUCI candidate Subash Chandra Bhoi from Puri, and Bharatiya Bikash Parishad nominee Natabar Maharana from Bhubaneswar. Out of the 64 candidates, 18 have declared criminal cases against them, and out of those, 13 are facing serious criminal charges.
The report also sheds light on the educational qualifications and age of the candidates. Nineteen candidates have declared their educational qualification to be between class 8th and 12th, while 43 candidates have a graduate degree or above. One candidate is a diploma holder, and another has declared himself as literate. In terms of age, there are eight candidates between the ages of 25 and 40, 45 candidates between 41 and 60, and 11 candidates between 61 and 80.
With such a diverse group of candidates vying for a seat in the Lok Sabha, the upcoming elections in Odisha are sure to be a closely contested affair. Only time will tell who will emerge victorious and represent the people of Odisha in the highest legislative body of the country.
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