Bhubaneswar, Sept. 28: Four of the eight candidates contesting the Kandhamal Lok Sabha bypoll are crorepatis.
BJD candidate Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh, widow of Hemendra Chandra Singh whose death in September has necessitated the bypoll, is ahead with property worth Rs 60 crore.
In contrast, BJP candidate Rudra Madhab Ray and Congress nominee Abhimanyu Behera have assets worth a little more than Rs 1 crore each.
Mohammed Ziauddin Ahmed, who is the candidate of the little known political outfit Indian Citizen Party, has property worth Rs 2.61 crore.
Ray had switched over to the BJP soon after the Election Commission announced the bypoll dates. Ray had won the Kandhamal seat in 2009 on a BJD ticket. But he fell out with the BJD after he was denied a ticket for the seat in the April elections. Ray in his affidavit has declared assets worth Rs 1.04 crore, more than double what he had shown in 2009. In 2009, his assets were worth Rs 43.55 lakh. He, however, owns no vehicle, though in 2009 he had one ambassador. He and his spouse have agricultural lands worth Rs 70 lakh, but have no residential buildings or non-agricultural land in their names. In 2009 he had residential buildings as well as non-agricultural land along with agricultural property.
Congress candidate Abhimanyu Behera owns assets worth Rs 1.09 crore. His immovable properties are worth Rs one crore. Most of his landed property is inherited. He has cash worth Rs 5 lakh and also owns a motorcycle.
On the other hand, Indian Citizen Party candidate Ahmed owns Rs 2.69 crore. His moveable assets include 65 acres of agricultural land that he has inherited. The total market value of the land is Rs 2.60 crore. He has mentioned in the affidavit that he is a vegetable trader and his wife a teacher. There are four other candidates who are contesting independently and have properties worth a few lakhs.
After nomination papers of one of the candidates was rejected, eight candidates are left in the fray. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is September 29. The election for this seat will be held on October 15 and counting will be held on October 19.
