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Navi Mumbai

The Panvel civic elections too have become the game of the rich, if the affidavits filed by the candidates are any indication.

A whopping 39% of the 414 candidates in the fray for the PCMC are multi-millionaires. According to election affidavits and data analysed by Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), 161 candidates are 'crorepatis' and leading the pack is BJP's Paresh Thakur (Rs 95 crore).

Interestingly, 76% that is 59 of 78 candidates of BJP are multi-millionaires, and 76% candidates fielded by Bhartiya Shetkari Kamgar Paksh (BSKP), which is 41 out of 54, are also 'crorepatis'

Out of Sena's 62 candidates, 21 are multi-millionaires(34%). Out of Congress's 15 candidates, 7 are crorepatis. (47%). The MNS has fielded 25 candidates and of them 24% or six are multi-millionaires. The NCP, too, has its share of crorepati candidates with 50% that is 3 out of 6 candidates.

There are some surprises too in this election. Three candidates— Akhil Bharatiya Sena's Avinash Gamre, MNS's Jyoti Gavhankar and Sena's Deepnarayan Mishra—have declared zero assets. Besides, 49 out of 414 candidates analysed have declared assets below Rs 3 lakh.

In some unpleasant data, 14% that is 59 out of 414 candidates analysed by ADR have declared criminal cases in the affidavits and 10% (43 candidates) have been named in serious criminal cases like attempt to murder, kidnapping, criminal intimidation, forgery, and cheating.

Around 28% of BJP's candidates, (22 out of 78) have declared cases against them. Similarly, 22% (12 out of 54) candidates from BSKP and 11% (7 out of 62) candidates from Sena have declared their criminal records. In case of MNS, 24% that is 6 out of 25 have a criminal past.