Crorepati candidates galore in poll-bound Karnataka

The preliminary analysis by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) shows that parties cutting across Karnataka have fielded candidates with criminal or serious criminal records.

As per the data, 32 percent of candidates fielded by the Congress have criminal antecedents while BJP the percentage stands at 27 percent. JD (S) stands between the two national parties with 29 per cent. All the parties have fielded candidates with serious criminal cases. The percentage for BJP stands at 17 percent, for Congress 16 and for JD (S) 16 percent.

The list also shows that crorepati candidates have been able to muscle into seat distribution. The list of crorepatis candidates who got re-nominated from Congress stands at 134, for BJP it is 97 and for JD-S it is 46 candidates. If we look it at from the percentage points then for BJP it stands at 87 percent, for Congress at 91 percent and for JD-S at 79 percent. As of now BJP has announced a list of 154, Congress 218 and JD-S 126 candidates. All political parties are expected to announce the remaining number of seats soon. The initial list of candidates had created internal problem both for BJP and Congress.

ADR also gives the average asset of a, re contesting corepati candidate. The average asset for such a millionaire in BJP is 8 crore, for Congress it is 28 crore and for JD-S it stands at 14 crore. Elections in Karnataka are being keenly watched as its results like Gujarat will have national repercussion for both BJP and Congress.