GUWAHATI, April 7 - Out of the 525 candidates in the fray for the second phase of the Assam Assembly election, 44 per cent have the educational qualification between 5th standard and 12th standard, whereas two candidates have declared themselves as illiterate. Only nine per cent female candidates are contesting in the second phase.
Analysing the self sworn affidavits of the candidates, the Assam Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms found 278 candidates having the educational qualification of graduation and above, which is 53 per cent of the total candidature. On the other hand, 231 candidates are educated between 5th to 12th standards. One candidate has simply declared himself as literate.
Moreover, the age analysis of the candidates shows that 334 candidates (64 per cent) have declared their age to be between 25 and 50 years while 185 (35 per cent) are between 51 and 80 years. Giasuddin Ahmed of CPI, 87, contesting from Bilasipara West is the oldest candidate, whereas five candidates contesting this time are 25 year-old. Interestingly, of the 48 women contesting in the second phase, 18 are contesting as Independent candidates. Congress has fielded six women candidates in the second phase.
