An analysis of self-sworn election affidavits by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) shows that 481 (42 %) of over 1,100 candidates who are in fray for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, are crorepatis. Among them almost a third have assets worth over Rs 2 crore.
While the absolute number of crorepati candidates in Haryana has increased when compared with the 2014 elections, their percentage as a share of total candidates has remained unchanged at 42 per cent.
Rohtas Singh of the JJP, who is contesting from Sohna constituency, has the highest amount of declared assets at over Rs 325 crore, followed by Captain Abhimanyu (Narnaund constituency) of the BJP at Rs 170 crore and Sukhbir Kataria (Gurgaon constituency) of the Congress at Rs 106 crore.
In the same analysis, it has been found that 117 (or 10%) of all the candidates, have criminal cases against them. The number of candidates with criminal cases against them has gone up by 23 from 94 in the 2014 Haryana Assembly elections to 117 this year.
Among the 117 candidates with criminal cases who are contesting this year, 70 (or 6%) are facing serious criminal cases. Among the major parties, the Indian National Congress has the highest number of candidates at 13 (or 15%) to have declared criminal cases in their affidavits. For the BSP, 12 (or 14%) out of 86 candidates have declared criminal cases, for the Jannayak Janta Party, 10 (or 11%) out of 87 candidates and for the Indian National Lok Dal, 7 (or 9%) out of 80 candidates have declared criminal cases against them.
According to the ADR report, five candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women with two candidates being named in cases related to rape. Five other candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder.