Press Release:West Bengal Assembly Elections Phase 4 (Analysis of Criminal, Financial & Other Background details of Candidates)
ADR India
Press Release
Dear Friends,
West Bengal Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 345 candidates who are contesting in the Phase 4 of West Bengal Assembly Elections to be held on 25th, April 2016.
Criminal Background
Candidaes with criminal cases: Out of all the 345 candidates, 48 (14%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.· Candidates with serious criminal cases: 42 (12%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, theft, crimes against women etc.
· Candidates with cases related to Murder: 3 candidates have declared charges related to Murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302).
· Candidates with cases related to attempt to murder: 10 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307).
· Candidates with cases related to crimes against women: 5 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women.
· Party wise candidates with criminal cases: 7 (14%) out of 49 candidates from BJP, 15 (31%) out of 49 candidates from AITC, 6 (25%) out of 24 candidates from CPI(M), 1 (5%) out of 22 candidates of SUCI(C), 6 (50%) out of 12 candidates fielded by INC, and 6 (6%) out of 96 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
· Party wise Candidates with serious criminal cases: 6 (12%) out of 49 candidates from BJP, 15 (31%) out of 49 candidates from AITC, 5 (21%) out of 24 candidates from CPI(M), 1 (5%) out of 22 candidates of SUCI(C), 3 (25%) out of 12 candidates fielded by INC, and 5 (5%) out of 96 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
· Red Alert constituencies*: 3 constituencies namely Bhatpara, Udaynarayanpur and Madhyamgram in Phase 4 of West Bengal assembly elections have 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases.
*Red Alert Constituencies are those which have 3 or more candidates with criminal cases contesting elections.
Financial Background
· Share of wealth among candidates : The share of wealth amongst the candidates contesting in Phase 4 of assembly elections in West Bengal is as follows:
|
Value of assets (Rs.) |
No of candidates |
Percentage of Candidates |
|
5 cr and above |
4 |
1% |
|
2 crores to 5 crores |
14 |
4% |
|
50 lakhs to 2 crores |
78 |
23% |
|
10 lakhs to 50 lakhs |
93 |
27% |
|
less than 10 lakhs |
156 |
45% |
Table: Share of wealth amongst contesting candidates
· High asset candidates*: The 3 richest candidates contesting in Phase 4 of the West Bengal 2016 Assembly Elections are given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Movable Assets (Rs) |
Immovable Assets (Rs) |
Total Assets (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
NORTH 24 PARGANAS |
KHARDAHA |
AITC |
6,31,59,465 |
5,43,22,090 |
11,74,81,555 |
Y |
|
|
2 |
HOWRAH |
ULUBERIA PURBA |
AITC |
2,21,68,264 |
4,22,00,000 |
6,43,68,264 |
Y |
|
|
3 |
NORTH 24 PARGANAS |
BIDHAN NAGAR |
INC |
4,96,49,176 |
20,00,000 |
5,16,49,176 |
Y |
Table: Top three candidates with highest declared assets
· Party wise crorepati candidates: 46 or (13%) candidates of the 345 contesting candidates in Phase 4 of the West Bengal Assembly Elections have declared assets worth over Rs 1 Crore. 19 (39%) out of 49 candidates from AITC, 8 (16%) out of 49 candidates from the BJP, 5 (42%) out of 12 candidates from the INC, 3 (13%) out of 24 candidates from the CPI(M), 1 (5%) out of 22 candidate from SUCI(C) and 7 (7%) out of 96 Independent candidates are crorepatis.
· Average assets: The average of assets per candidate contesting in Phase 4 of the West Bengal Assembly Elections is Rs 50.02 Lakhs.
· Party wise average assets: Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 49 BJP candidates is Rs 69.57 Lakhs, 49 AITC candidates have average assets of Rs 1.38 crores, 22 SUCI (C) candidates have average assets worth Rs 17.34 Lakhs, 12 INC candidates have average assets worth Rs 1.47 crore, average assets of 24 CPI(M) candidates are Rs 52.24 Lakhs, 7 AIFB candidates have average assets of Rs 76.30 Lakhs and 96 Independent candidates have average assets of Rs. 17.87 Lakhs.
· Zero asset candidates: 4 candidates contesting in Phase 4 of the West Bengal 2016 Assembly Elections have declared Zero assets. They are as follows:
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Movable Assets (Rs) |
Immovable Assets (Rs) |
Total Assets (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
HOWRAH |
HOWRAH UTTAR |
BSP |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Y |
|
|
2 |
HOWRAH |
HOWRAH MADHYA |
BSP |
0 |
0 |
0 |
N |
|
|
3 |
HOWRAH |
SHIBPUR |
BSP |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Y |
|
|
4 |
HOWRAH |
ULUBERIA PURBA |
BSP |
0 |
0 |
0 |
N |
Table: Candidates with Zero assets
· Low asset candidates: The three candidates with lowest assets are as follows (these names exclude candidates who have declared zero assets) :
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Movable Assets (Rs) |
Immovable Assets (Rs) |
Total Assets (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
NORTH 24 PARGANAS |
NAIHATI |
IND |
360 |
0 |
360 |
N |
|
|
2 |
NORTH 24 PARGANAS |
BARRACKPUR |
CPI(ML) Red Star |
666 |
0 |
666 |
Y |
|
|
3 |
NORTH 24 PARGANAS |
SANDESHKHALI (ST) |
SUCI(C) |
1,000 |
0 |
1,000 |
N |
Table: Candidates with declared lowest assets
· Candidates with high liabilities: The top three candidates with highest liabilities are as given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Total Assets(Rs) |
Liabilities (Rs) |
Disputed liabilities (Rs) |
|
1 |
HOWRAH |
HOWRAH UTTAR |
INC |
3,85,51,260 |
1,41,78,189 |
0 |
|
|
2 |
HOWRAH |
HOWRAH MADHYA |
BJP |
2,87,94,934 |
1,17,17,057 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
NORTH 24 PARGANAS |
BIDHAN NAGAR |
IND |
3,45,87,915 |
# 1,01,27,470 |
5,52,689 |
Table: Top three candidates with high liabilities
# Disputed liabilities
· Undeclared PAN: A total of 57 (17%) out of the 345 candidates analysed candidates have not declared their PAN details.
· Candidates with high income as declared in the ITR*: 2 candidates have declared total annual income of more than Rs 1 Crore. These candidates are as given below:
|
S.No. |
Name |
Party Name |
Constituency |
District Name |
Total Asset (Rs) |
The financial year for which the last income tax return has been filed by candidate |
Total income shown by candidate in ITR (Self+Spouse+Dependent) (Rs) |
Self income shown by candidate in ITR (Rs) |
|
1 |
AITC |
HOWRAH UTTAR |
HOWRAH |
5,16,07,445 5 Crore+ |
2014-2015 |
1,15,77,110 1 Crore+ |
1,11,97,410 1 Crore+ |
|
|
2 |
INC |
BIDHAN NAGAR |
NORTH 24 PARGANAS |
5,16,49,176 5 Crore+ |
2014-2015 |
1,03,74,691 1 Crore+ |
1,03,74,691 1 Crore+ |
Table: Candidates with high income as declared in ITR
*Total income includes income of self, spouse and dependents
· Candidates who have not declared Income Tax Details*: 195 (57%) out of 345 candidates have not declared income tax details.
* Some candidates may be exempted from filing Income Tax Returns
· Candidates with high Assets who have not declared Income Tax Details*: 15 candidates with assets worth more than Rs. 50 Lakhs have not declared Income Tax details. The top three candidates with highest assets who have not declared their IT returns are as given below;
|
S.No. |
Name |
District |
Constituency |
Party Name |
Total Income (Rs) |
Movable Assets (Rs) |
Immovable Assets (Rs) |
Total Assets (Rs) |
PAN Given |
|
1 |
NORTH 24 PARGANAS |
RAJARHAT NEW TOWN |
BJP |
1665098 |
34,00,060 |
2,27,00,000 |
2,61,00,060 2 Crore+ |
Y |
|
|
2 |
NORTH 24 PARGANAS |
RAJARHAT NEW TOWN |
CPI(M) |
0 |
4,86,039 |
2,27,27,275 |
2,32,13,314 2 Crore+ |
Y |
|
|
3 |
NORTH 24 PARGANAS |
NOAPARA |
INC |
0 |
6,000 |
1,83,49,188 |
1,83,55,188 1 Crore+ |
N |
Table: Top three candidates with highest assets who have not declared ITR details
* Some candidates may be exempted from filing Income Tax Returns
Other Background Details
· Education details of candidates: 152 (44%) candidates have declared their education qualification to be between 5th pass and 12th pass, while 120 (35%) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or graduate professional. 50 (14%) candidates have declared themselves to be postgraduates whereas 10 (3%) candidates have declared they are Doctorates and 8 (2%) candidates have declared they are simple literates. 1 candidate has declared to be an illiterate.
· Age details of candidates: 200 (58%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 50 years while 145 (42%) candidates have declared their age to be between 51 and 80 years.
· Gender details of candidates: 39 (11%) women candidates are contesting in Phase 4 of the West Bengal assembly election this year.
|
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