Around 21 percent of the of 173 candidates contesting in the first phase of Manipur assembly elections have criminal cases. Around 53 per cent are crorepatis with 24 candidates (14 per cent) have assets valued at Rs five crore and above

Analytical reports of Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said on Friday thst nearly 16 per cent have serious criminal cases against them.

Among the major political parties, 11 (29 per cent) out of 38 candidates belonging to the ruling BJP followed by 8 (23 per cent) out of 35 candidates belonging to the Congress, 7 (25 per cent) out of 28 candidates are of Janata Dal (United) and 3 (11 per cent) out of 27 candidates are of National People’s Party (NPP).

The average assets per candidate contesting in the first phase of Manipur elections are Rs 2.51 crores.

A candidate of NCP Ningthoujam Popilal Singh contesting in the Sekmai (SC) constituency has declared zero assets in his affidavit.In all 23 (13 per cent) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 to 40 years while 115 (66 per cent) candidates have declared their age to be between 41 to 60 years.

Of the 173 candidates contesting in the first phase of assembly elections 15 (9 per cent) women candidates are in the electoral battle.