KALYAN: The Maharashtra Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms have analyzed the self-affidavits of 741 candidates contesting the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) elections and the results of their analysis are out in the open.

A study of the candidate profiles has revealed that out of 741 candidates 18% candidates have criminal backgrounds of which BJP has the lion's share with 26% followed closely by the Shiv Sena at 25%. The NCP so far has fielded only 3% candidates who have past criminal records.

The report points out that the crimes of 95 candidates (13%) are of a serious nature including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery and extortion. Some notables on this list are Kunal Patil, an Independent, Moreshwar Bhoir and Mahesh Patil of the BJP, Shailesh Tiwari of the Congress.

The research has also shown that 191 out of the total 741 candidates, around 26% are crorepatis of whom Sudhir Gaikar of the MNS has declared property worth Rs 107 crore while Shalini Vayle of the Shiv Sena has declared assets worth over Rs 106 crore. The maximum number of crorepatis, 51 out of 114 candidates, are from the Shiv Sena.

The average assets per candidate analysed for the KDMC elections is Rs.1.73 crore. Interestingly 25 candidates out of the 741 analyzed, have declared zero assets while 16 other candidates have declared assets less than Rs 10,000. A total of 11 candidates have declared liabilities above Rs 1 crore.