At least 412 crorepati candidates are contesting for State Legislative Assembly elections which are being held in four phases from May 13 to June 1. BJP Candidate Dilip Ray is richest candidate contesting for Assembly Poll.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Odisha Election Watch have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 1283 out of 1285 candidates, who are contesting for 147 MLA seats in Odisha.  

Out of the 1283 candidates analysed, 412(32 percent) are crorepatis. In 2019 Odisha Assembly elections, out of 1121 candidates, 304 (27 percent) were crorepatis, the ADR said in its report.

“The role of money power in our elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates. Among the major parties 128 (87 percent) candidates are from BJD, 96 (65 percent) from BJP, 88 (61 percent) from Congress and 11 from AAP have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore,” it said.

The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Odisha Assembly elections 2024 is Rs 2.89 crore. In 2019, the average assets per MLA candidate were Rs. 1.69 crore.

Former Coal Minister Dillip Ray, whose conviction in coal scam case was stayed by Delhi high court for contesting in ensuing election, has emerged as the richest MLA candidate in fray for the Assembly election in Odisha.

As per a report, BJP nominee Shri Ray is the richest nominee with a total asset of Rs 313.53 crore, followed by BJD candidate from Champua segment Sanatan Mahakud (Rs 227.67 crore).

The third palace is occupied by the BJD candidate from Basta Assembly segment, Subasini Jena, who declared both movable and immovable assets of Rs 135.17 crore.

Similarly, five candidates in fray for the Assembly elections in Odisha have declared zero or nil assets in their affidavits, as per a report. 

The zero asset candidates are— independent candidates Ramesh Kumar Mahanand (Bhawanipatna), Sohan Sipka (Kantabanji) & Sanjay Kumar Das (Dhamnagar), BSP candidate from Rayagada Purna Chandra Majhi, and Ambedkarite Party of India’s Gopal Krushna Mohanty, who is contesting from Korei.

A total of 103 MLAs are re-contesting in 2024 Assembly polls, of which 74 are from BJD, 21 from BJP, five from Congress, two independents and one from CPI (M). The average assets of the 103 re-contesting MLAs in 2019 was Rs 4.51 crore, which is now enhanced to Rs 7.80 crore in this election.

Out of the 1283 candidates analysed, 348 (27 percent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. In 2019 Odisha Assembly elections, out of 1121 candidates analysed, 332(30 percent) had declared criminal cases against themselves. In this Assembly election, 292 candidates are facing serious criminal cases.

Similarly, 566 MLA candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between class-V and XII standard while 652 candidates are having an educational qualification of graduate or above. Besides, 51 candidates are diploma holders, 12 candidates are just literate and two candidates are illiterates, the report said.

Among total candidates in fray for the assembly polls, highest 760 candidates are of 41 to 60 years age group, 333 candidates are of 25-40 age group, 188 candidates in the age between 61 to 80 years and 2 candidates have declared their age are more than 80 years old.

Only 178 (14 percent) women candidates are contesting in the Assembly elections in the state in 2024 while 112(10 percent) women candidates have contested in 2019 polls.