Out of the 18 candidates contesting the two by-elections of Sindgi and Hangal in Karnataka, eight have declared themselves to be crorepatis and two have serious criminal cases.

The data was shared on Wednesday by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) which analysed the declared backgrounds of 235 candidates contesting in the 33 assembly seats in the country that is going into bypolls on October 30.

Leading the fray, in terms of total assets is BJP’s Hangal candidate Shivaraj Sajjanar with a whopping Rs 13.48 crore in wealth and Rs 52 lakh in liabilities.

He is followed by Congress Hangal candidate Srinivas Mane who has declared assets of Rs 8.35 crore (Rs 1.98 cr liability) and Congress Sindgi candidate Ashok Manguli with Rs 7.37 crore (Rs 1.24 cr liability)

BJP’s Sindgi candidate Ramesh Bhusanur is also not far behind with Rs 3.77 crore assets (Rs 42.46 lakh liability).

The JD(S), interestingly, has a crorepati in Naziya Angadi fielded from Sindgi with declared assets of Rs 1.05 crore and Rs 7.01 lakh liability but also at the other end of the spectrum in Niyaz Shaikh who has more liability than assets.

Shaikh has declared assets of Rs 1.6 lakh and a liability of Rs 8.62 lakh.

Of the 18 candidates, analysed by ADR, 14 of them are either graduates or post graduates.

Only two candidates, both independents, have declared serious criminal charges being filed against them. Their names are-- Dr Sunil Kumar Hebbi contesting from Sindgi and Nazeer Ahmed Savanur from Hangal.