Over 50 per cent of the candidates contesting for the 2023 Meghalaya Assembly elections are crorepatis.
According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), out of the 375 candidates, 186 are crorepatis.
In the 2018 Meghalaya Assembly elections, out of 370 candidates, 152 (41 per cent) were crorepatis.
“The role of money power in our elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates,” the ADR report said.
Among the major parties, 43 (75 per cent) out of 57 candidates from NPP, 30 (65 per cent) out of 46 candidates from UDP, 27 (48 per cent) out of 56 candidates from Trinamool Congress, 25 (42 per cent) out of 60 candidates from Congress and 23 (38 per cent) out of 60 candidates from BJP have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.
The average of assets per candidate contesting in this election is Rs 5.91 crore. In the 2018 elections, the average asset per candidate for 370 candidates was Rs 3.54 crore.
Among the major parties, the average assets per candidate for 60 BJP candidates is Rs 2.71 crore, the average assets of 60 Congress candidates is Rs 4.34 crore. The average asset of 57 NPP candidates is Rs 10.68 crore.
Further, the average assets of 56 Trinamool Congress candidates is Rs 4.95 crore and the average assets of 46 UDP candidates are worth Rs 10.50 crore.
The details of the top 10 candidates with highest declared assets in the 2023 elections are given below:
Metbah Lyngdoh (UDP – Mairang) has total assets worth more than Rs 146 crore. These include movable assets worth Rs 87,49,27,463 and immovable assets worth Rs 58,82,24,375.
Vincent H. Pala (Congress – Sutnga Saipung) has total assets worth more than Rs 125 crore. These include movable assets worth Rs 2,49,79,178 and immovable assets worth Rs 123,30,00,000.
Evalyni Kharbani (HSPDP – Mawhati) has total assets worth more than Rs 109 crore. These include movable assets worth Rs 15,04,37,649 and immovable assets worth Rs 94,80,00,000.
Nehlang Lyngdoh (NPP – Khliehriat) has total assets worth more than Rs 102 crore. These include movable assets worth Rs 3,08,32,497 and immovable assets worth Rs 99,37,83,400.
Ashahel D. Shira (UDP – Rajabala) has total assets worth more than Rs 85 crore. They include movable assets worth Rs 85,09,18,578 and no immovable assets.
Grace Mary Kharpuri (NPP – Shella) has total assets worth more than Rs 59 crore. These include movable assets worth Rs 34,89,46,629 and immovable assets worth Rs 24,67,00,000.
Methodius Dkhar (HSPDP – Mawshynrut) has total assets worth more than Rs 55 crore. These include movable assets worth Rs 22,82,83,287 and immovable assets worth Rs 32,27,17,200.
James Pangsang Kongkal Sangma (NPP – Dadenggre) has total assets worth more than Rs 53 crore. These include movable assets worth Rs 32,30,38,296 and immovable assets worth Rs 20,76,50,000.
Ronald Rikman Sangma (UDP – Salmanpara) has total assets worth more than Rs 51 crore. These include movable assets worth Rs 4,28,39,650 and immovable assets worth Rs 47,19,65,000.
Tarcisious Mawlot (Independent – Mawlai) has total assets worth more than Rs 51 crore. These include movable assets worth Rs 31,80,000 and immovable assets worth Rs 51,06,94,000.
The details of three candidates with the lowest assets are as follows:
Arbiangkam Kharsohmat (Congress – Amlarem) has total assets worth Rs 9,000.
Thosengcheba A. Sangma (Republican Party of India-A – Raksamgre) has total assets worth Rs 22,000.
Mark Rinaldy Sawkmie (BJP – Mairang) has total assets worth Rs 23,461.
Also Read: https://highlandpost.com/sniawbhalang-dasakhiat-richest-candidates/
