May 6th 2024.
In the upcoming Assembly elections in Odisha, a recent report from the Association for Democratic Reforms has revealed that out of the 243 candidates vying for seats in the first phase, a staggering 65 of them have pending criminal cases against them. These candidates will be competing in 28 Assembly constituencies and four Lok Sabha seats, with voting taking place on May 13.
According to the report, 48 of these candidates are facing serious charges. The major parties are not immune to this issue, with 18 BJP candidates, 17 Congress candidates, nine BJD candidates, and three AAP candidates all declaring criminal cases in their affidavits. On a more positive note, out of the total 243 candidates, 32 of them are female, and 70 of them are crorepatis.
The report also highlights the candidates with the highest wealth. BJD candidate for the Digapahandi Assembly segment, Biplab Patro, has declared assets worth a whopping Rs 33.36 crore, making him the richest candidate in the first phase. Following closely behind are Bikram Kumar Panda, BJD nominee for Gopalpur Assembly seat, with assets worth Rs 15.94 crore, and Sudhir Ranjan Pattjoshi, BJP candidate for Dharamgarh, with assets worth Rs 12 crore. On the other end of the spectrum, independent candidate for Bhawanipatna, Ramesh Kumar Mahanand, and BSP candidate for Rayagada, Purna Chandra Majhi, have declared zero assets.
The report also sheds light on the educational qualifications of the candidates. Out of the total 243, 132 have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard, while 100 have a graduate or higher education. Seven candidates have a diploma, and four are literate. In terms of age, 26 candidates fall in the 61 to 80 years bracket, 73 are between 25 to 40 years, and 144 are in the age group of 41 to 60 years.
The report serves as a reminder that while many candidates possess great wealth and education, there are also those with pending criminal cases. It is important for voters to consider all aspects of a candidate before making their decision at the polls. The first phase of the Assembly elections in Odisha is sure to be an interesting one, with a diverse group of candidates vying for seats.
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