Bhopal, Jan 15: Thirty-three per cent candidates contesting the Madhya Pradesh Municipal Council Elections 2018 are crorepatis, according to data released by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The ADR report also says that 16 per cent of the candidates have criminal backgrounds in the election that is scheduled for January 17.

In what the BJP is calling the ‘semi final’ of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2018, 19 urban local bodies (plus 1 for bypoll) in 5 districts will go to polls on January 17. The 5 districts where urban local bodies (Municipal Councils and City Councils) will go to polls are – Dhar, Barwani, Khandwa, Guna and Anuppur.

The ADR report says 12 or 16 per cent out of 76 candidates in the fray have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. If seen party-wise, two out of 19 candidates from Congress, one out of 20 candidates from the BJP, one out of 2 candidates from the SHS and five out of 28 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Meanwhile, out of the 76 candidates analysed, 25 are crorepatis. Seen party-wise, nine out of 20 candidates from BJP, eight out of 19 candidates from Congress, one out of two candidates from SP and seven of 28 Independent candidates are crorepatis.

Ashok Kumar, contesting as an Independent candidate from Dhar is the richest candidate with declared assets worth above Rs 13 crore, according to the ADR report.