Itanagar, Apr 11 (UNI): About 115 (81%) out of 142 (143-1) candidates in the fray for the April 19 Assembly election in Arunachal Pradesh are crorepatis, according to a report.
The report said 131 (71%) out of 184 candidates were crorepatis in 2019 polls. Among the major political parties, 57 (97%) out of 59 BJP candidates, 16 (80%) out of 20 National People’s Party (NPP) candidates, 13 (68%) out of 19 INC candidates, and nine (82%) out of 11 candidates from People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.
Among the candidates, BJP nominee and Chief Minister Pema Khandu (who has been elected unopposed from Mukto seat in Tawang) is the wealthiest with movable and immovable assets worth over Rs 332 crore.
On the contrary, the Arunachal Democratic Party (ADP) candidate from Bordumsa-Diyun constituency in Changlang district, Madan Tanti is the poorest with Rs 40,000 worth of movable properties, as per the report.
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), along with Arunachal Pradesh Election Watch analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 142 out of 143 contesting candidates and released its report on Wednesday.
It said that the affidavit of BJP’s Ratu Techi, who won the Sagalee seat unopposed, has not been analysed due to the unavailability of his clear and complete affidavit on the ECI website. Out of 142 candidates analysed, 98 are from national parties, 27 from State parties, four from registered unrecognized parties and 13 candidates are contesting independently.
Top ten (crorepati) candidates with highest assets are Pema Khandu (Rs 332 crore), BJP’s Lombo Tayeng from Mebo constituency (Rs 171 crore), NCP’s Nikh Kamin from Bordumsa-Diyun (Rs 153 crore), BJP’s Chowna Mein (Deputy CM) from Chowkham (Rs 126 crore), NCP’s Likha Saaya from Namsai (Rs 117 crore), NPP’s Mayu Taring from Palin (Rs 112 crore), BJP’s Tana Hali Tara (Doimukh, Rs 82 crore), BJP’s Tsering Lhamu (Lumla, Rs 81 crore), BJP’s Chow Zingnu Namchoom (Namsai, Rs 68 crore), and NCP’s Toko Tatung (Yachuli, Rs 57 crore).
10 candidates with lowest assets – ADP’s Madan Tanti from Bordumsa-Diyun (Rs 40,000), NPP’s Dihom Kitnya (Changlang North, Rs 4 lakh), NCP’s Aju Chije (Mechuka, Rs 5 lakh), INC’s Jampa Thirnly Kunkhap (Lumla, Rs 10 lakh), Independent Taka Muang (Pasighat West, Rs 11 lakh), INC’s Gollo Yapung Tana (Pakke-Kessang, Rs 12 lakh), Ind Holai Wangsa (Pongchao-Wakka, Rs 13 lakh), INC’s Jeremai Kron (Tezu, Rs 13 lakh), INC’s Tarh Johny (Palin, Rs 14 lakh), and ADP’s Haren Tali from Lekang (Rs 17 lakh).
The top 5 re-contesting MLAs with the highest asset increase include Pema Khandu, whose asset values increased by 103 per cent from Rs 163 crore in 2019 to Rs 332 crore in 2024, Chowna Mein (from Rs 64 crore in 2019 to Rs 126 crore with 95% increase), Chau Zingnu Namchoom (from Rs 27 crore in 2019 to Rs 68 crore with 145%), NPP’s Karikho Kri from Tezu (from Rs 18 crore in 2019 to Rs 41 crore with 121%), and Lombo Tayeng (from Rs 148 crore in 2019 to Rs 171 crore with 15% increase).
The average assets per contesting candidate is Rs 18.13 crore as compared to Rs 9.86 crore in the 2019 elections. Among the major parties, the average asset per candidate for 59 BJP candidates is Rs 26.05 crore, 20 NPP candidates is Rs 16.95 crore, while 19 INC candidates have average assets of Rs 6.89 crore and 11 PPA nominees with average assets worth Rs 8.95 crore.
