Candidates in West Bengal's Second Poll Phase: A Wealth of Controversies

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has released a report revealing that 23% of candidates in the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves. This phase, involving 1,445 candidates, highlights a significant challenge for parties like the BJP, TMC, CPI(M), and Congress.

The analysis reveals that the BJP has 72% of its candidates, TMC 35%, CPI(M) 51%, and Congress 26% with criminal cases. Furthermore, 63 of the 142 constituencies are marked 'red alert' due to having three or more candidates with such cases.

Financial disclosures show 22% of candidates are crorepatis, boasting assets worth over Rs 1 crore. The average asset value per candidate is Rs 1.21 crore, with TMC candidates averaging Rs 5.05 crore, highlighting the economic dynamics within the campaign trail.

(With inputs from agencies.)