West Bengal polls highlight stark wealth gap: Crorepatis vs ₹500 candidate

Nearly 20% of the 1,478 candidates contesting the first phase of the West Bengal polls are crorepatis, with a significant share belonging to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), while the poorest candidate has declared assets of just ₹500, according to an analysis of poll affidavits, reported by The Times of India’s Rohit Khanna and Debashish Konar

Citing data compiled by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and West Bengal Election Watch, the report noted that affidavits of 1,475 candidates were analysed, with three excluded due to discrepancies.

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The analysis found that 228 candidates have assets between ₹1 crore and ₹5 crore, 46 between ₹5 crore and ₹10 crore, and 35 candidates have declared assets exceeding ₹10 crore. Among parties, 106 TMC candidates, 71 from BJP, 50 from Congress and 24 from CPM fall in the crorepati category.

The wealthiest candidate is TMC’s Jangipur nominee Jakir Hossain, with assets exceeding ₹133 crore, followed by Goutam Mishra (₹105 crore) from Barjora and Kabi Datta (₹72 crore) from Durgapur West.

At the other end of the spectrum, AJUP’s Rubiya Begam, contesting from Durgapur East, has declared assets worth ₹500. She is followed by SUCI’s Sushrita Saren (₹700) from Midnapore and Jashoda Barman (₹924) from Jalpaiguri.

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The report also flagged a high incidence of criminal cases among candidates. Around 23% of contestants have pending criminal cases, with 20% facing serious charges.

Among major parties, 106 of BJP’s 152 candidates have pending cases, including 96 involving serious offences. In TMC, 63 out of 148 candidates have declared pending cases, with 48 involving serious charges.

With inputs from TOI