According to an analysis, as many as 121 (31%) out of the total 394 candidates contesting in the 4th phase of the Odisha Assembly Elections 2024 are crorepatis.
· The financial backdrop of the election is further accentuated by the staggering average assets per candidate, standing at Rs 2.62 crore for this phase.
· Notably, candidates from the BJD emerge as the wealthiest, with an average asset value of Rs. 11.09 crores, followed by INC and BJP nominees.
· Subasini Jena, contesting from Basta assembly constituency under the BJD banner, emerges as the wealthiest candidate, boasting total assets worth a staggering Rs. 1,35,17,87,484.
· Less than 24 hours before the Phase III elections, reports emerge of pre-poll clashes resulting in nine injuries across various regions in Odisha.
· Incidents of violence, ranging from clashes over liquor distribution to targeted attacks on political operatives, cast a shadow over the electoral process.
· The outbreak of violence prompts swift police responses, with investigations initiated into each incident.
As the political arena in Odisha heats up ahead of the fourth phase of Assembly Elections 2024, a striking revelation emerges – a substantial number of candidates vying for legislative seats boast significant wealth. Among the 394 candidates contesting across 42 constituencies in this phase, a staggering 121, constituting 31%, are crorepatis, according to a meticulous analysis of their self-sworn affidavits by the Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The pervasive influence of monetary power in electoral contests becomes apparent as major political parties’ field affluent candidates. A breakdown of candidates from prominent parties reveals that a substantial proportion of nominees from the BJD, BJP, and INC, among others, possess assets exceeding Rs 1 crore.
The financial backdrop of the election is further accentuated by the staggering average assets per candidate, standing at Rs 2.62 crore for this phase. Notably, candidates from the BJD emerge as the wealthiest, with an average asset value of Rs. 11.09 crores, followed by INC and BJP nominees.
Subasini Jena, contesting from Basta assembly constituency under the BJD banner, emerges as the wealthiest candidate, boasting total assets worth a staggering Rs. 1,35,17,87,484. Similarly, Subasini Sahoo, also representing the BJD from Simulia, and Niranjan Patnaik, contesting from a different constituency, command substantial wealth, underscoring the financial prowess of select candidates.
However, amidst the opulence reflected in financial disclosures, the electoral landscape is marred by the specter of violence. Less than 24 hours before the Phase III elections, reports emerge of pre-poll clashes resulting in nine injuries across various regions in Odisha.
Incidents of violence, ranging from clashes over liquor distribution to targeted attacks on political operatives, cast a shadow over the electoral process. From Athagarh to Angul, the simmering tensions manifest in physical altercations, leaving victims nursing wounds and communities gripped by fear and uncertainty.
The outbreak of violence prompts swift police responses, with investigations initiated into each incident. However, the scars of these clashes serve as stark reminders of the challenges inherent in ensuring a peaceful and democratic electoral process.
In Athagarh, clashes erupted over the distribution of liquor, leading to injuries, including that of a minor, underscoring the volatility of pre-poll dynamics. Similarly, in Sahajpur panchayat in Pipili, a Samiti Sabhya member and two others were injured in an attack, highlighting the vulnerability of political actors in the electoral fray.
As Odisha braces for the electoral showdown, characterized by opulence and unrest, the electorate stands at a crossroads, tasked with the responsibility of shaping the state’s political trajectory amidst a backdrop of wealth, wounds, and the quest for power. The forthcoming phase of elections holds the promise of both transformative change and enduring challenges, as the state navigates the complexities of democracy in action.
(With inputs from agencies)
