Punjab Elections 2017: Punjab grows richest harvest: 428 crorepatis in fray

As Punjab gears up for a high-pitched electoral battle, it’s also turning out to be a contest between the richest, with as many as 428 out of total 1,145 candidates contesting the Assembly elections owning assets worth several crores.

As per a report released by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), based on the affidavits filed by candidates before the Election Commission, 428 crorepatis are in fray for total 117 Assembly seats in the state.

Congress leads the pack with 103 out of its total 117 candidates declaring assets worth over Rs 1 crore, followed by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which has 87 crorepatis in its list of 94 candidates. Its ally BJP has fielded 23 candidates and 20 of them are crorepatis.

The fledgling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which flags itself as the party of the common man has 71 candidates who have declared assets worth Rs 1 crore.

The state’s economy is on downward spiral and crisis looms large over its agricultural sector, but it is not the case with the electoral candidates representing the population. It also signals towards the challenge to monitor flow of money during elections. The average asset per candidate is Rs 3.49 crore and political experts highlight that the number has gone up as compared to the 2012 Assembly elections.

The richest candidates belong to Congress, where average asset of a candidate is Rs 12 crore, while it is Rs 9 crore for SAD, Rs 6 crore for BJP and Rs 6 crore for AAP. Among top 50 richest candidates, Congress has 22 candidates, AAP has 12 and SAD has 8 candidates.

Cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu tops the list of 13 candidates who have declared that their total annual income as filed in Income Tax returns is more than Rs 1 crore.  Sidhu’s total assets are worth Rs 45 crore. The list also includes AAP’s Aman Arora. Over 41 per cent of candidates have not declared their income tax details.

Among the Badals, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal is the richest with assets worth Rs 102 crore, followed by estranged cousin Manpreet Badal who will contest on Congress ticket from Bathinda with Rs 40 crore and CM Prakash Singh Badal stands 64th richest candidate and has declared assets worth Rs 14 crore. SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia has declared assets worth Rs 25 crore.

Congress’ CM candidate Captain Amarinder Singh has declared assets worth Rs 48 crore and is the 12th richest candidate.

According to political experts, the number of candidates with criminal cases has reduced as compared to last elections, indicating that parties have become cautious in giving tickets to such candidates. But, it could also be because of candidates refraining from submitting details of their criminal cases.

This time, as many as 101 candidates declared that there are criminal cases pending against them, out of which 14 are from Congress, 12 from AAP, 10 from SAD and 2 from BJP.

However, 78 of them have serious criminal charges against them, including four candidates who are facing trial for murder, 11 for alleged attempt to murder and six for crime against women.

Liquor baron, Shiv Lal Doda contesting as an independent candidate from Fazilka is not only the second richest candidate, but also faces trial for murder of a Dalit man.

REPORT CARD

• When it comes to education, only 32 per cent candidates are graduates or above, which includes 117 post graduates and 6 doctorates.
   
• The women representation remains low at 7 per cent with only 81 women contesting the elections this year.
   
• There is only one candidate who has listed as third gender in the affidavit
   
• This time, as many as 101 candidates declared that there are criminal cases pending against them, out of which 14 are from Congress, 12 from AAP, 10 from SAD and 2 from BJP
   
• 78 of them have serious criminal charges against them, including four candidates who are facing trial for murder