Kolkata, Apr 19: An analysis by Election Watch on the affidavits made by the candidates contesting third phase of election in West Bengal says, out of 418 candidates 61 have declared assets worth over Rs. one crore and of them, 13 have declared the value of their assets to be above Rs.5 crore. Out of 62 candidates from Trinamool Congress, 27 have assets worth above Rs one crore. Overall, the average assets of candidates from all parties in this phase are Rs 74.76 lakh, the report states. BJP contestant Somabrata Mandal from Shyampukur seat is the richest of them all with total assets worth over Rs 28 crore. However, two candidates from Jharkhand Disom Party have declared zero assets. Out of the total 418 candidates in this phase, more than half of them have not declared income tax details in their affidavits, the report said. An analysis of their criminal background shows that 80 candidates have criminal cases against them.
Polling for 62 seats in the third phase of the Assembly polls will be held on April 21 in Burdwan, Kolkata North, Murshidabad and Nadia.
