A Tale of Wealth and Poverty Among Candidates
Contents
Overview of the First Phase
The first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections is set to take place on Wednesday, with 43 constituencies going to the polls. Out of the total electorate of 2.6 crore voters in the state, approximately 1.37 crore are eligible to cast their votes in this phase. The contest will feature over 600 candidates, with a significant number reporting substantial wealth, highlighting the stark economic divide among those vying for political office.
The Wealth Divide Among Candidates
An analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed that approximately 34% of the 682 candidates contesting in Phase 1 are “crorepatis” (millionaires), with assets exceeding ₹1 crore. Of these, 63 candidates, or 9.24%, have declared assets surpassing ₹5 crore. Additionally, 11.44% of candidates report assets between ₹2 crore and ₹5 crore. The remaining candidates report varying levels of wealth, with 29.18% having assets between ₹10 lakh and ₹50 lakh, and 21.11% possessing assets under ₹10 lakh.
The Richest Candidate: Kandomani Bhumij
The wealthiest candidate in this phase is Kandomani Bhumij, an independent contestant from the Potka (ST) constituency in East Singhbhum district. Bhumij has declared assets totaling ₹80 crore, making her the standout figure among the 600+ candidates in terms of financial standing.
The Poorest Candidate: Sushil Topno
In stark contrast, the poorest candidate is Sushil Topno, a Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha candidate from the Sisai (ST) constituency in Gumla district. Topno has reported assets worth only ₹7,000, all in movable form, with no immovable property to his name.
Party-Wise Crorepati Distribution
When broken down by party affiliation, the wealth disparity is striking. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads with 30 out of 36 candidates (83%) declaring assets over ₹1 crore. Among the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), 78% of candidates (18 out of 23) are crorepatis, while 94% of Congress candidates (16 out of 17) report similar financial standing. Other parties such as the BSP, RJD, and JD(U) also have candidates with substantial assets, although in smaller numbers.
Conclusion
The first phase of the Jharkhand elections highlights the stark contrast between the wealth of the candidates and the voters they aim to represent. As the state moves towards the remaining phases of the election, these disparities are likely to continue shaping public discourse. The final round of voting will take place on November 20, with the results scheduled to be announced on November 23.
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