Bhubaneswar: As many as 82 out of 726 analyzed Zilla Parishad (ZP) members, who have elected during the recently concluded Panchayat Elections, have declared criminal cases against themselves.

The Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), who analysed the self-sworn affidavits of the victorious candidates, have said this in its latest report released on Tuesday.

The ADR has analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 726 out of 851 Zilla Parishad Members in the Odisha Panchayat Elections 2022. The rest of the affidavits were not analysed as they were not available or uploaded on the website at the time of making this report.

Out of 82 ZP members have declared criminal cases against themselves, 15 elected members have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307).

Similarly, 65 (9%) ZP members are facing serious criminal charges including cases related to attempt to murder, crimes against women etc, according to a report.

As many as 12 zilla parishad members have declared cases related to crimes against women.

Informing party-wise ZP members with criminal cases, the report said 66 (10%) out of 661 ZP members are from ruling BJD, six (16%) out of 37 ZP members are from BJP followed by 7(32%) out of 22 elected members of Congress, 1(33%) out of 3 members from JMM, 1 (100%) out of 1 member from CPI (M) and 1(50%) out of 2 Independent members have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Informing about serious criminal cases, the ADR further said that 53 (8%) out of 661 ZP members from BJD, 4(11%) out of 37 members from BJP, 6(27%) out of 22 members from INC, 1(33%) out of 3 zilla parishad members from JMM and 1(50%) out of 2 Independent members have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Out of the 726 zilla parishad members analysed, 95 (13%) are crorepatis, according to the report.

Highest 90 (14%) out of 661 crorepati ZP candidates are from BJD, while 3 (8%) out of 37 ZP members are from BJP and 2 (9%) out of 22 ZP members are from INC.

The average of assets per zilla parishad members in the Odisha Zilla Parishad Elections 2022 is Rs 56.60 lakhs.

The ADR report said that 451 (62%) ZP members have declared their educational qualification to be between 5th pass and 12th pass, while 256 (35%) ZP members have declared having an educational qualification of graduate and above. There are 6 ZP members who are Diploma holders.

Moreover, 7 ZP members have declared themselves to be just literate and 6 other members have not given their educational qualification,

The ZP members have declared their age to be between 21 and 50 years while 88 (12%) ZP members have declared their age to be between 51 and 70 years whereas 373 members have not declared their age in the affidavit.

Out of 726 zilla parishad members analysed, 385 (53%) ZP members are women.