The average assets of 24 candidates of various political parties re-contesting the first phase of Assembly polls has seen a quantum jump in Chhattisgarh since 2008, an independent report released on Friday, claimed on the basis of the affidavits filed by the candidates.

The average assets of the 24 candidates fielded by various political parties in 2008 Assembly polls was Rs 32,34,142 (32.34 lakh) which is Rs 1,16,52,537 (1.16 crore) in 2013 as per the report of Association for Democratic Reforms and Chhattisgarh Election Watch (CEW) which had analysed the affidavits of all the 143 candidates who are contesting in 18 constituencies during the first phase of Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh.

The average asset growth for the re-contesting candidates is Rs 84,18,394  (84.18 lakhs) and average percentage growth in assets for the re-contesting candidates is 260%, it stated. Out of the 24 re-contesting candidates, 12 are sitting MLAs in the outgoing Assembly and their assets have grown by 330% since 2008, it stated.

There are 10 sitting BJP MLAs whose average asset increase had been Rs 1.54 crore and two Congress (INC) MLAs whose average asset increase had been Rs 61.31 lakh. As regards personal net worth of the contesting candidates, out of the 143 contesting candidates, 25 (17%) are crorepatis. The average asset per candidate contesting in the first phase of 2013 Chhattisgarh Assembly polls is Rs 57.84 lakh, the report stated.

The average asset per candidate for the Congress (18 candidates) is Rs 1.75 crore for 18 BJP candidates (Rs 1.34 crore), BSP(18 candidates) Rs 10.11 lakh and the average assets of Samajwadi Party (SP) (5 candidates) is Rs 9.42 lakh.

Raman Singh of BJP from Rajnandgaon Assembly constituency has declared the highest income of Rs 32.26 lakh in the last Income Tax Returns (ITR) filed for the year 2012-13 followed by Dinesh Gandhi of the BJP from Dongargaon with total income of Rs 13.66 lakh and Jhadu Ram Nareti of Chhattisgarh Swabhiman Manch (CSM) from Kanker with an income of Rs 13.14 lakh for the financial year 2011-12. (Most of the candidates have claimed to be exempted from paying Income Tax), the report stated.

Regarding criminal history of the candidates, out of the 143 candidates contesting in the first phase of 2013 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, 15 candidates (or 10 %) have declared criminal cases against them. Moreover, out of the 15 candidates who have declared criminal cases, 6  have declared serious criminal cases. These include murder, kidnapping, criminal intimidation and crime against women.

Among party-wise candidates with criminal cases, two out of 18 (11%) candidates fielded by the Congress have declared criminal cases against them while three out of 18 (17%) candidates from the BJP, two out of 18 (11%) candidates from the BSP, one out of 5 (20%) candidates from the SP have declared criminal cases in their affidavits, it stated.

As regards to the educational background of candidates, a total of 54 (38%) candidates out of 143 analysed are graduates or have higher degrees. There are a total of 88 (62%) candidates who have  educational qualification of 12th pass and below. A total of 104 (73%) candidates out of the 143 analysed, have declared their age to be between 25 and 50 years. There are 36 (25%) candidates who declared their age to be between 51 and 70 years.

Only 11 (8%) women are contesting in the first phase of Assembly polls. Among the major political parties, the Congress has fielded three women candidates while two women are contesting under the BJP.