Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 10 out of 37 candidates contesting in the first phase in West Bengal are crorepatis!

Of the 37 candidates contesting from the three Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal, Jalpaiguri (SC), Cooch Behar (SC) and Alipurduar (ST), ten are crorepatis.

Elections will be held in Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar Lok Sabha constituencies in the first phase on April 19.

West Bengal Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which examined the affidavits, on Monday, said three independents, two candidates each from BJP and Trinamool Congress and one each from CPI(M), Congress and RSP are crorepatis.

CPI(M)’s Debraj Barman, contesting from the Jalpaiguri (SC) Lok Sabha seat, has assets worth Rs 3,89,89,468, which is the highest. SUCI’s Chandan Oraon, contesting from Alipurduar (ST), is the poorest with a net worth of Rs 12,117.

The study found that five candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, four of whom have serious crimes registered against them.

Analysis of the candidates’ education details revealed that 16 of them have qualifications between class 8 and 12, while 20 are graduates or have higher education degrees. One candidate has described himself as illiterate.

Overall, 21 candidates have declared their age between 25 to 50 years, while 15 nominees are between 51 to 70 years. The age of a candidate is 71 years.