Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nominee from Punjab’s Bathinda is the richest candidate contesting in the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections with assets worth over Rs 198 crore. She is followed by BJP candidate from Odisha’s Kendrapara Baijayant Panda with assets worth over Rs 148 crore. Following closely is another Sanjay Tandon, BJP candidate from Chandigarh, who has declared assets worth over Rs 111 crore, according to a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi seat in Uttar Pradesh, has declared assets of Rs three crore. He has not declared any immovable assets.
The ADR and The National Election Watch have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 904 candidates, who are contesting in Phase 7 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 across seven states and one union territory.
Out of the 904 candidates, 299 (33 per cent) are crorepatis.
Among the major parties 13 (100 per cent) out of 13 candidates from SAD, 13 (100 per cent) out of 13 candidates from AAP, nine (100 per cent) out of nine candidates from SP, six (100 per cent) out of six candidates from BJD, 30 (97 per cent) out of 31 candidates from Congress, eight (89 per cent) out of nine candidates from TMC, 44 (86 per cent) out of 51 candidates from BJP, four (50 per cent) out of eight candidates from CPI(M) and 22 (39 per cent) candidates out of 56 candidates analysed from BSP have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore
The average assets per candidate contesting in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha election is Rs 3.27 crores.
Lok Sabha Elections Phase 7: Candidates educational qualifications
Among candidates with low assets are: Bhanumati Das contesting from SC-reserved constituency Jagatsinghpur in Odisha as Utkal Samaj party nominee has declared assets of Rs 1,500. The other two are Rajiv Kumar Mehra (Ludhiana, Punjab) from Jan Sewa Driver Party and Independent candidate Balaram Mandal (Jadavpur, West Bengal) have declared assets worth Rs 2,500 each.
A total of 402 (44 per cent) candidates have declared their educational qualifications to be between 5th and 12th standard while 430 (48 per cent)candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. Twenty candidates are Diploma holders. A total of candidates have declared themselves to be just literate and 24 candidates are Illiterates, reveals ADR report.
Ninety-five (11 per cent) female candidates are contesting in the Lok Sabha Phase VII elections.
The Lok Sabha elections or general elections are being held in seven phases, and the last phase of polls is on June 1. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.