With 59 per cent of candidates declaring themselves as crorepatis, the Nagaland assembly elections seem to be a contest of the rich as the average asset per candidate is Rs 3.76 crore. Interestingly, 27 or 14 per cent of the candidates, out of 193, have not declared their source of income.
Analysis of self-sworn affidavits by candidates to the Nagaland assembly elections, scheduled for February 27, had some insights. The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), which analysed the affidavits along with the Nagaland Election Watch, analysed the affidavits of 193 out of a total of 196 candidates. It found out that of the 193 candidates, 114 (59 per cent) are crorepatis.

The ADR report said, “43 (77 per cent) out of 56 candidates from NPF, 24 (62 per cent) out of 39 candidates from NDPP, 13 (65 per cent) out of 20 candidates from BJP, 12 (48 per cent) out of 25 candidates from NPP, 7 (54 per cent) out of 13 candidates from JD(U), and 6 (33 per cent) out of 18 candidates from INC have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore.” One candidate, Akavi N. Zhimomi of AAP contesting from Ghaspani-I constituency has declared zero assets in his affidavit.

The ADR report also found that from the 193 candidates analysed, 3 or 2 per cent of the candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. One candidate each from the NPF (56 candidates), NDPP (39 candidates), and BJP (20 candidates) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

A total of nine or 5 per cent of the 193 candidates analysed have not declared their PAN details, added the ADR report.

In terms of education, 52, or 27 per cent of the candidates have declared their educational qualification to be between class VIII to class XII pass, said the report, while 137 candidates, which is 71 per cent, declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above. “There are three candidates who are illiterate,” said the ADR report.

A majority of those contesting elections in the Nagaland assembly are aged between 51 years to 80 years (61 per cent) while 75 candidates (39 per cent) are between 25 years to 50 years. “One candidate has declared his age above 80 years,” said the ADR analysis. There are only five, that is 3 per cent, women contesting the Nagaland elections.