Assembly Elections 2018: More than 70 percent recontesting Congress, BJP candidates in Madhya Pradesh are crorepatis

More than 70 percent of recontesting candidates in Madhya Pradesh from the two main contenders – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress – are crorepatis, according to an Association for Democratic Reforms’ (ADR) preliminary analysis of affidavits filed by these candidates during 2013 assembly polls. A whopping 72 percent of Congress’ and 71 percent of BJP’s recontesting candidates are crorepatis, ADR said in a press release.

Not just that, around 41 percent of the recontesting candidates (the total number being 99) announced by Congress in Madhya Pradesh polls till November 4 have criminal cases against them and as many as 27 recontesting candidates have serious criminal cases against them.

Compared to Congress’, as many as 22 percent of BJP’s recontesting candidates (the total number being 99) have criminal cases against them and  18 candidates have serious criminal cases registered against them.

The Congress has so far released the list of 171 candidates, while BJP has released its first list of 177 candidates.

In Chhattisgarh assembly elections, there are 42 crorepati candidates out of 187 contestants in the fray in the first phase of elections on November 12.

Among the major parties, 13 out of 18 Congress candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore, while four (out of 18 candidates) BJP candidates are crorepatis.

In Chhattisgarh, among the major parties, around 39 percent candidates from Congress have criminal cases against them, while three (30 percent) out of 10 candidates from Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) (JCC), one candidate each from Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) and SP and three (5 percent) out of 66 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Among the major parties, four (22 percent) out of 18 candidates from Congress, two (20 percent) out of 10 candidates from Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) (JCC) and two (3 percent) out of 66 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

The first phase of voting in Chhattisgarh assembly elections for 90 seats is on November 12 and the second phase on November 20. Madhya Pradesh will vote for 230 seats on November 28 in a single phase election.