495 ‘crorepatis’ in Ph 2

NEW DELHI: Of the 1,463 candidates in poll fray for the second phase of the Bihar Assembly election, 495 are 'crorepatis (millionaires)', a report claimed on Tuesday.

The report was released by the Bihar Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) after analysing the self-sworn affidavits of all the 1,463 candidates, who are contesting in the Bihar Assembly Elections Phase II. The second phase scheduled in the 94 Assembly constituencies in 17 districts is on November 3.

The report claimed of the 1,463 candidates, 495, which is 34%, are crorepatis. It said 118 candidates have assets worth Rs5 crore and above, while 185 candidates have assets worth Rs2 crore to Rs5 crore. 426 candidates have assets worth Rs50 lakh to Rs2cr and 462 candidates have assets worth Rs10 to Rs50 lakh. Only 272 of 1,463 candidates have assets less than Rs10 lakh.

The report said, "The BJP tops the list of the crorepati candidates and the BSP with the least."

It said, "Out of 46 BJP candidates, 39, which is 85%, are crorepatis followed by 20 out of the 24 candidates of the Cong, 83% have assets worth Rs1 crore.

It also said 502 have criminal cases against them of which 389 are serious. “While 389 candidates, which is 27% of 1,463 candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves," it said.