NEW DELHI, March 31 - Contrary to popular perception that Assam is among the poorest of States, there are 112 crorepati candidates, which is 21 per cent of the total number of 539 candidates contesting in the Assembly polls. In the first phase of polls, at least 56 crorepati candidates are in the fray, with Jyoti Subba, wife of lottery baron Mani Kumar Subba, leading the list of richest candidates.
Moreover, there are 20 candidates, which accounts for four per cent of the total number of candidates in the fray, whose worth is over Rs 20 crore. Another 46 (9 per cent) candidates have assets between Rs 2 to 5 crore. Altogether 119 candidates (22 per cent) have properties between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 2 crore. However, 230 candidates, which accounts for 43 per cent, have assets worth less than Rs 10 lakh.
These details were released on Thursday by the Assam Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all the 539 candidates contesting in the first phase of Assam Assembly elections to be held on April 4.
Jyoti Subba, who is contesting as an Independent candidate from Sootea, has total assets valued at Rs 288 crore. Her movable assets are worth over Rs 141 crore and immovable assets worth over Rs 146 crore. Her liabilities, however, stand at Rs 121 crore.
Another high asset candidate is Naren Sonowal, AGP candidate from Naharkatiya LAC. His total declared assets are worth Rs 33 crore.
The third richest candidate is Congress nominee from Algapur LAC, Rahul Roy, who is son of State Minister Gautam Roy. His total declared assets are worth over Rs 25 crore.
The ruling Congress party has the largest number of crorepati candidates. At least 36 of the 65 candidates fielded by Congress (55 per cent), 23 of 54 candidates of the BJP (43 per cent), 7 of the 11 candidates of the Asom Gana Parishad (64 per cent), two (22 per cent) out of nine candidates fielded by NCP, two (67 per cent) out of three candidates of Bodoland People�s Front and 26 (9 per cent) of 280 Independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.
The average assets per candidate contesting in the first phase of polls is Rs 1.47 crore, the report added.
Among the major parties, the average assets per candidate for the 65 INC nominees is Rs 2.62 crore, while the 54 BJP candidates have average assets of Rs 1.50 crore. The 27 AIUDF candidates have average assets worth Rs 1.06 crore, the 13 SUCI(C) candidates have average assets worth Rs 10.35 lakh, 11 Asom Gana Parishad candidates have average assets worth Rs 6.06 crore, average asset of 10 CPI(M) candidates is Rs 35.78 lakh, 10 CPI candidates have average assets of Rs 16.05 lakh and 280 Independent candidates have average assets of Rs 1.48 crore.
At least two candidates, Jiten Tanti of CPI(ML) from Teok constituency and Independent candidate Diganta Phukan from Mariani constituency, have declared zero assets in their self-sworn affidavits.
The candidates with lowest income included Debangshu Nath of SUCI(C), contesting from Patharkandi Constituency. His total asset was shown as Rs 2,362. Anjali Senapati, contesting from Duliajan LAC from Jan Congress Party, is among the three low asset candidates, with total assets worth Rs 2,250. Satyendra Namasudra, SUCI(C) candidate contesting from Ratabari Reserved Constituency, has total asset worth Rs 4,630.
Jayanta Khaund, who is AGP�s Naoboicha candidate, has assets worth Rs 21 crore, but his liabilities has been calculated at Rs 13 crore.
Satho Basumatary, an Independent candidate contesting from Jonai (ST) LAC, has assets worth Rs 12 crore, but has liabilities worth Rs 5 crore.
A total of 68 (13%) candidates have not declared their PAN details, the report added.
