Voters pick millionaires, graduates in Haryana Assembly elections

A perusal of the results of the Haryana Assembly elections throws up some interesting facts. For one, 83 per cent of the winners were millionaires. Also, 67 per cent of them were at least graduates. The new Assembly will have 75 crorepatis (millionaires) in all.

In comparison, 75 per cent (66 legislators) in the previous Assembly were millionaires, according to the affidavits analysed by Haryana Elections Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms, a non-profit organisation.

The average asset of a candidate rose to Rs 4.38 crore in 2014 against Rs 2.05 crore in 2009. Similarly, the average asset of winners doubled from Rs 6.71 crore to Rs 12.97 crore.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which bagged 47 seats, has 40 millionaires. The Congress, which won 15 seats, has 14 millionaires. Interestingly, the number of winners with criminal cases has declined. Of the 90 winning candidates in 2014, nine were facing trial. This number was 15 in 2009.

The BJP has five legislators with criminal cases. The Indian National Lok Dal, the second-largest party with 19 seats, has two members followed by one member from the Congress.

Kuldeep Bishnoi and Renuka Bishnoi are the only winning candidates of the Haryana Janhit Congress. They hold the second and third positions, respectively, in terms of assets.

They had declared assets worth Rs 80 crore each in their election affidavits. BJP's Vipul Goyal, who won from the Faridabad constituency, was the richest candidate with assets worth Rs 106 crore. The elections were held on October 15 and the result was announced on Sunday.