Thirty-tree percent of candidates, numbering 126, in the fray in the third phase election in Odisha are crorepaties, according to a report of the Association for Democratic Reformes (ADR).

Polling for the third phase of elections in the State will be held on May 25.

Champua BJD candidate Sanatan Mahakud is the richest among the crorepatis owning assets worth Rs 227.67 crore. The second richest on the list is Ghashipura Independent candidate Soumya Ranjan Patnaik who owns assets worth Rs 122.87 lakh. The third richest is BJP's Nayagarh BJP nominee Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh with assets worth Rs 120.56 crore.

The poorest among the candidates fighting the third phase poll is Samruddha Odisha's Badamba candidate Kailash Chandra Nayak, who owns assets worth Rs 1,000. Next to him is Bramhagiri Independent candidate Sukant Ghadei and North-Bhubaneswar CPI (ML) candidate Gopinath Nayak, each of the two own properties worth Rs 2,000 only.

The ADR report is based on the affidavits, submitted to the Election Commission of India by the candidates.

Out of 381 MLA candidates in the third phase, two have not gone to schools, while two others have passed Class V. While 11 nominees have passed Class V, 32 have passed Class VIII, 49 Class X, 86 Graduation, and six have done doctorate. The nominees comprise 337 males and 44 women. While one candidate is aged above 80 years, 129 belong to the 41-80 year age group, according to the ADR report.