Nagaland Assembly Elections 2018: 59 Per Cent Candidates in Fray Are Crorepatis, Maximum From Ruling NPF, Finds ADR
In terms of demography, 61 per cent of the candidates are aged between 51 to 80, whereas, 39 per cent or 75 candidates are aged between 25 to 50.
Kohima, Feb 21: Out of the 196 candidates in fray for the 60 seats to be contested in the upcoming Nagaland assembly elections 2018, a total of 59 percent were found to be crorepatis. The maximum among them are from the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF), revealed the analysis conducted by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).
ADR, which studied affidavits of 193 of the 196 candidates, found 114 of them with assets above Rs 1 crore. Party-wise, it found 43 of NPF's 56 candidates to be crorepatis, 13 out of 20 candidates of the BJP, 24 out of 39 candidates of NDPP, 7 out of 13 candidates of JD(U) and 6 out of 18 candidates of the Congress.
Meanwhile, one candidate of the AAP - Akavi N. Zhimomi - contesting from Ghaspani-I constituency declared zero assets.
Moreover, the contest appears to be a battle of the riches as the average asset-worth per candidate was found to be Rs 3.76 crore. Interestingly, 27 candidates or nearly 14 per cent did not declare their source of income in the poll affidavits.
In terms of criminal cases, only 2 percent of the candidates were found tainted. A complaint has been filed against one candidate each of the NPF, BJP and NDPP.
On education front, 137 out of the 193 candidates (71 per cent) have declared themselves to be graduate. 27 per cent or 52 candidates claimed to have studied between Class VII to Class XII. Meanwhile, only three candidates declared themselves as illiterate.
In terms of demography, 61 per cent of the candidates are aged between 51 to 80, whereas, 39 per cent or 75 candidates are aged between 25 to 50. This is also the first time in Nagaland's electoral history when women have entered the poll fray. A total of five female candidates have filed their affidavits.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 22, 2018 12:09 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).