GUWAHATI: On April 24, as the final phase of the Lok Sabha election in Assam unfolds, at least 22 crorepati candidates will fight it out for six seats. While Guwahati constituency has the highest number of crorepatis in a single constituency, with 6 millionaires in the fray, Nagaon has the 'least', with only two such candidates.
The richest of the lot is perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal's brother and Jamunamukh MLA Siraj Uddin Ajmal who has total assets worth Rs 67 crore. He is fighting from Barpeta.
A latest report released by Assam Election Watch (AEW), the Assam chapter of National Election Watch (NEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) revealed that besides Siraj Uddin, three other candidates who are fighting from Barpeta are crorepatis.
"Trinamool Congress candidate and former president Fakhruddin Ahmed's son Parvez Ali Ahmed, Congress' Ismail Hussain and BJP's Chandra Mohan Patowary are all crorepatis. They are all fighting to win Barpeta," the report added.
AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, who is in the race for Dhubri, will face a tough fight from crorepatis like Wazed Ali Choudhury (Congress), Debomoy Sayal (BJP) and Azmal Hussain (AAP).
BJP's sitting MPs in Nagaon and Mangaldoi-Rajen Gohain and Ramen Deka (also crorepatis) respectively are in the fray with wealthy rivals like Jonjonali Baruah (Congress) in Nagaon and Kirip Chaliha (Congress) and Deba Barman (TMC) in Mangaldoi.
Even militancy and violence-hit Kokrajhar has crorepati candidates to boast of. "BPF's Chandan Brahma, TMC's Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary and Independent Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmuthiary have assets over Rs 2 crore," the report added. Brahma is the richest among the three, with assets of over Rs 6 crore.
In Guwahati seat, six candidates are crorepatis, with Congress's Manash Borah, son of veteran Congress leader Akon Borah, being the richest with assets worth over Rs 4 crore. Guwahati's sitting MP from BJP Bijoya Chakraborty has assets of Rs 1.25 crore, whereas regional party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)'s former MP Birendra Prasad Baishya has assets worth Rs 1.55 crore.
"Independent Dhiraj Medhi is the second richest candidate in Guwahati with assets of Rs 2 crore. AIUDF's Gopi Nath Das is the 'poorest' with Rs 1.13 crore," said the ADR report, which analyzed the affidavits of the 74 candidates in the fray for the final phase of polling.
