Gujarat elections: Here's a comparative analysis of crorepati candidates

There has been a jump in the number of crorepati candidates contesting the Assembly elections in Gujarat this year, to be held on December 1.

The election will be held for 89 of the 182 seats. Gujarat is known for its industry base, its business acumen, and a relatively higher per capita income. The profile of those contesting the elections reflects this reality.

The average assets per candidate contesting the Gujarat Assembly elections in Phase I is Rs 2.88 crore.

In the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections in Phase I, the average assets per candidate for the 923 nominees was Rs 2.16 crore. 

This analysis is based on income and asset affidavits submitted to the Election Commission of India as part of the mandatory filings ahead of any election.

One Independent candidate - Bhupendra Bhavinbhai Patoliya from Rajkot West constituency - has declared zero assets in the affidavit.

The richest candidate, with Rs 175.78 crore of assets, is Ramesh Tilala, the saffron party’s candidate from Rajkot South constituency, revealed the Association for Democratic Reforms report.

Forty nine per cent candidates have declared liabilities in their affidavits. A total of 37 (or 5 per cent) candidates have not declared their permanent account number details.

According to the report published by the election watchdog, the role of money power in the elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties have given tickets to wealthy candidates.

While 79 (or 89 per cent) of the 89 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates this year are crorepatis, 65 (or 73 per cent) of the 89 Congress candidates, and 33 (or 38 per cent) of the 88 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.

If the contesting BJP candidates have average asset size of Rs 13.4 crore, Congress candidates are not far behind with average assets of Rs 8.38 crore, followed by AAP at Rs 1.99 crore and 14 Bharatiya Tribal Party candidates with Rs 23.39 lakh.

By comparison, the Bahujan Samaj Party candidate from Vyara seat in the Tapi district, Rakesh Gamit, has only Rs 1,000 as assets. He is the candidate with the lowest declared assets.

Source: Association for Democratic Reforms