SHILLONG, FEB 12: Hundred and thirteen candidates contesting the 2013 Meghalaya election slated for February 23 are “crorepatis” even as thirteen of the 341 candidates have declared that they have criminal cases registered against them.
The analysis based on the affidavits submitted by the candidates and released by the Meghalaya Election Watch (MEW) on Tuesday revealed that the names of former HNLC chairman Julius Dorphang and its cadre Banteibor Lyngdoh were not in the list of candidates against whom criminal cases have been registered.
Two of the thirteen candidates with criminal records are from Congress, two from UDP, one each from NPP, HSPDP, SP and six are Independent candidates.
The analyses were revealed by the MEW member Jaskir Singh along with Agnes Kharshiing during a news conference at the Shillong Press Club on Tuesday.
The MEW members revealed that seven candidates- one each from UDP, NPP and five Independent- have declared serious criminal cases like extortion, sedition and cheating against them.
The top three candidates who have declared serious criminal cases against them include Arun N Marak of UDP from Songsak who has been charged with extortion, Marcuise N Marak of NPP from Williamnagar with sedition charge and Independent candidate Kismet A Sangma from North Tura charged for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, the analysis report of MEW stated.
“We have analyzed the affidavits of 341 candidates for public and electorate information about the candidate’s assets, income, educational qualification and criminal background which was declared in their affidavits sworn in by them,” Singh told reporters.
Of the hundred and thirteen candidates, thirty-five are from the ruling Congress including four women, second only to the 38 others who have join the fray for the 2013 poll as independents.
The UDP have twenty-three ‘crorepati’ candidates while seventeen others belonged to the opposition NPP, HSPDP, SP, NCP and the BJP, MEW member Kharshiing said.
Congress candidate Ngaitlang Dhar, who is contesting from Umroi assembly seat, is the richest with assets of over Rs 235.64 crore, followed by Jropsing Nongkhlaw (Cong) from Shella assembly constituency and Metbah Lyngdoh (UDP) from Mairang Assembly constituency with assets worth over Rs 52 crore and over Rs 37 crore respectively.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma and his wife Dickanchi D Shira who has also joined the electoral fray for the first time,
have declared assets worth over Rs 28 crore.
Ten women candidates, including chief minister’s wife are crorepatis. Four belonged to the Congress while six others are contesting on NPP (1), UDP (1) tickets and three as Independents.
Hundred and eleven candidates are re-contesting assembly election. The assets of the candidates who are contesting the elections again this year have also reportedly increased in the last five years (2008-2013).
MEW pointed out that Raliang Congress candidate Comingone Ymbon has declared maximum increase in assets with an increase of Rs 24.26 crore from Rs 1.21 crores in 2008 . Now he has assets worth Rs 25.48 crores in 2013.
UDP Mairang candidate Metbah Lyngdoh asset also have increased by Rs 16.29 crore, In the 2008 election his asset was worth Rs 21 crore but now it has increased to Rs 37.29 crore.
Assets of chief minister Mukul Sangma have risen by Rs 11.07 crore. In 2008 his asset was worth Rs 3.43 crorebut now he has assets worth Rs 14.50 crore, the MEW report stated.
The MEW analysis report, however, said that the highest percentage of increase in assets has been declared by Sniawbhalang Dhar of the Congress party who is contesting from Nartiang constituency. Dhar assets has increase from Rs 75,074 in 2008 to Rs 2.96 crore in 2013.
The lone woman legislator in Meghalaya assembly Ampareen Lyngdoh’s assets has increase from Rs 23,518 in 2008 to Rs
21 lakh in 2013.
Assembly speaker Charles Pyngrope assets has increased by over Rs 3 crore in the past five years. In 2008 his assets was valued at Rs 3.77 crore and now he has declared assets worth Rs 6.94 crore this year.
Interestingly eight candidates have also reported decrease in their assets compared to 2008.
Among them the highest decrease has been shown by Mawsynram constituency NPP candidate DP Langjuh (almost 93 per cent decline in assets, Rs 1.02 crore in 2008 to Rs 7 lakh in 2013), followed by Nongthymmai KHNAM candidate Manosha Warjri (86 per cent reduction in assets, from Rs 3 lakh in 2008 to Rs 41 thousand in 2013) and Umroi HSPDP candidate Markus Lyngdoh (62 per cent decline in assets, Rs 24, 000 in 2008 to Rs 9, 000 in 2013).
Candidates with the lowest assets include Charles GR Syngkli of NCP from Nongpoh constituency whose assets is worth only Rs 2, 500, followed by Hopingstone Marsharing of HSPDP from Mawhati with Rs 6, 042 and Markus Lyngdoh of HSPDP from Umroi constituency with Rs 9, 067.
While none of the candidates who are contesting the upcoming Assembly elections are illiterate candidate, nine are PhD
degree holders, twenty-three candidates are under matriculation and fifty seven who have just managed to clear the matriculate board exams successfully.
Eight candidates are over 70 years of age. – By Our Reporter
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