From Our Correspondent
Agartala: Among 249 contesting candidates in the Tripura Assembly polls, Biplab Kumar Ghosh of Congress has emerged as the richest contestant with assets worth Rs. 9.29 crores, according to a report released by National election watch (NEW).
Biplab Ghosh, who is contesting on the Congress ticket from Matabari Assembly constituency, is followed by Congress candidate Dilip Sarkar of Badharghat Assembly constituency with Rs. 4.58 crores worth of properties and Pranajit Singha Roy contesting on behalf of Congress party from Radhakishorepur assembly constituency with assets worth Rs. 4.03 crores.
As per the analysis of Financial and Income Tax details of the contestants for the state assembly election, a total of 16 candidates are counted as crorepatis who are going to contest the poll on February 14.
Of the 16 ‘crorepati’ candidates, 12 belonged to the opposition Congress, one to the ruling CPI-M, one to BJP and the rest are independents, Tripura Election Watch (TEW) secretary Biswendu Bhattacharya said Monday.
During the last assembly election in 2008, altogether 301 candidates had participated in the contest. Out of the total, 2% were crorepati candidates.
The detailed report also revealed that 66 candidates are showing their assets less than Rs. 1 lakh.
Babul Banik of SUCI contesting from Suryamaninagar assembly constituency has been declared as zero assets, as per the survey conducted by NEW.
Similarly, Pranesh Das of Amraa Bangalee from Pabiacherra assembly constituency showed his asset of only Rs. 100. Shibani Bhowmik of SUCI (C) fighting from Town Bardowali has assets worth Rs. 500.
Comparing the political party-wise average assets, the average asset per candidate of Congress party were counted at Rs.98.07 lakhs, whereas the asset of CPM per candidate is Rs. 28.98 lakhs.
Other than, BJP has been counted at Rs. 10.06 lakhs and for IPFT, the rate stands at Rs. 4.21 lakhs.
Among the highest income candidates, Biplab Kumar Ghosh has been declared having the highest income worth Rs. 40.77 lakhs as per his last income tax return.
He is followed by Congress candidate Satyaban Das from Pabiacherra assembly constituency with declared income of Rs. 38.24 lakhs while; Pranajit Singha Roy has a total income worth Rs. 30.38 lakhs.
Bhattacharya said of the total candidates in fray, 19 have criminal cases against them. Charges have been framed against 12 of the candidates and one of them has been accused under Prevention of Corruption Act, he said.
Expressing concern over the PAN and Income Tax returns filed by the 249 candidates, National Election Watch programme coordinator Mashqura Fareedi said, “88 per cent of the candidates didn’t file any income tax returns.”
She said nine candidates, including five from CPI(M), three from Congress and one from BJP, with assets of over Rs 40 lakh did not declare their PAN details.
The defaulter included state Finance Minister Badal Choudhury. (with inputs from PTI)