Maharashtra home to top five ‘red alert’ constituencies going to polls on April 29
Of the 306 crorepati candidates in the fray for the fourth phase of the general elections, 109 are from Maharashtra.
A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms analysed affidavits of 928 of the 943 candidates in the fray across the country, of which 320 are from Maharashtra. This is the fourth and last phase of polls in the State, where 17 constituencies will go to polls, including six from Mumbai.
Dubious distinction
About 28% of total candidates contesting the election on April 29 in the State have declared criminal cases against them. In this phase, the top five constituencies categorised as ‘red alert’ — which indicates high number of candidates having criminal background being fielded — are from Maharashtra. In the top 15 from this category, 10 are from the State. Kalyan, neighbouring Mumbai, grabs the top spot with 10 of the candidates have criminal cases against them. It is followed by Mumbai North East (9), Shirdi (9), Dhule (7) and Maval (6).
In terms of wealth, Sanjay Bhosale of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) who is contesting from Mumbai South Central is richest candidate in the State in the fourth phase with total assets worth ₹125 crore. He is second-richest in the country, next to Nakul Nath of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. He is followed by Shiv Sena candidate from Maval, Shrirang Barne (₹102 crore) and Congress’ Priya Dutt (₹96 crore) from Mumbai North-Central constituency. Ms. Dutt has declared the highest income as per the I-T returns among the candidates in Maharashtra.
Baban Thoke, an independent candidate from Mumbai North East is the poorest candidate from the State with assets worth ₹1100 only. Congress’ Dhule candidate Kunal Patil tops those with highest liabilities in Maharashtra in this phase. He has liabilities worth ₹58 crore as against the total assets worth ₹42 crore. VBA’s Sanjay Bhosale follows him with liabilities worth ₹23 crore.