SHILLONG: In cash-strapped Meghalaya, 152 candidates, or 41 per cent of the total number in the fray, are crorepatis with an NPP candidate leading the league.
Ngaitlang Dhar, the NPP’s Umroi candidate, has declared the highest amount of assets of over Rs 295 crore, including moveable and immoveable, showed a study conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Dhar is followed by two more candidates, UDP’s Metbah Lyngdoh and PDF’s Lamboklang Mylliem. While Lyngdoh, who is contesting from Mairang, has moveable and immoveable assets worth over Rs 87 crore, Mylliem of Jirang has declared assets worth over Rs 49 crore.
NPP has the highest percentage of crorepati candidates at 65 followed by the Congress (58%) and UDP (54%).
The three candidates whose incomes, as shown in income tax returns, are the highest are Manas Chaudhuri of the Congress (over Rs 1 crore), Hambertus Nongtdu of BJP (over Rs 55 lakh) and NPP’s Mizanur Rahman Kazi (over Rs 21 lakh). The figures in bracket include incomes of spouses and dependents.
When considered individually, Nongtdu has the highest with over Rs 55 lakh (Rs 55,60,000, the same as the earlier category), followed by Chaudhuri (over Rs 26 lakh) and Kazi (over Rs 17 lakh).
The three candidates with the lowest assets are Nengrin Sangma, Banshailang Majaw and Torry Teison Kharsati. Sangma, an AITC candidate from Gambegre, has declared assets worth Rs 12,063; Majaw, KHNAM candidate from Mylliem, has Rs 14,696; and BJP’s Mawryngkneng candidate Kharsati has Rs 20,000.
25 candidates have criminal cases
Besides the billionaires’ club, the people of the state will also choose their representatives from among criminals, some of them facing murder and rape charges.
Out of the 370 candidates analysed, 25 or 7 per cent have declared criminal cases, the ADR report said, adding that 21 (6 per cent) candidates have serious criminal charges against them. While the GNC candidate from Baghmara, Nikman Ch Marak, has declared a case related to murder against himself, three candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder, the ADR report said.
Three candidates have declared cases related to crime against women such as rape, word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman and cohabitation caused by man deceitfully including a belief of lawful marriage under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Among the national parties, BJP and the Congress have equal percentage of candidates with criminal and serious criminal cases at 9 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively. NPP has 6 per cent candidates with criminal cases and 4 per cent facing serious charges.
41% between 5th and 12th pass
If these data are too negligible to pay heed to and on the expected lines, then how about this – 151 candidates, or 41 per cent of the total, who are potential lawmakers have declared their educational qualification to be between 5th pass and 12th pass. This is despite many parties boasting about “quality candidates” and improving the education sector.
