With the campaign to the first phase of Gujarat elections ending on Tuesday, the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has come up with a report on the profile of candidates in second phase of the state elections.

The report, compiled by Gujarat Election Watch (GEW) and ADR, is an outcome of an analysis done on the details provided by the candidates in their affidavits. The total number of candidates in the battle field is 820 out of which 402 candidates were analysed.

While 19% of the candidates have criminal cases against filed against them, 37% are crorepatis. Only 33% candidates in the poll fray are either graduates or with higher educational qualification. Interestingly, 45% candidates never filed income tax returns and the growth in the assets of sitting MLAs was found to have increased by 295%.

Following are the highlights of the report:

Candidates with criminal background
·  78 out of 402 analysed (19%) declared criminal cases against them.
·  Out of these 78 candidates with declared criminal cases, 40 have declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, rape etc.
·  The top three candidates from major parties who have declared serious criminal cases of murder, kidnapping and theft against them are: (1)Amit Anil Chandra Shah of BJP from Naranpura constituency (2 charges related to murder and kidnapping each). (2) Takatsinh Ravsinh Solanki of INC from Shehra constituency (2 charges related to murder) (3) Vikramsinh Prabhatsinh Rathod of BSP contesting from Kalol constituency (1 charge of attempt to murder and voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means each).
· Two candidates (Jethabhai G. Ahir of BJP from Shehra constituency and Prafulchandra Punjabhai Vankar of BSP of same constituency) have declared charges related to rape against themselves.
· One candidate Natvarlal Pitambardas Patel (INC) from Mahesana constituency has declared that he has cases registered against him under the “Prevention of Corruption Act”.

Assets and liabilities of the candidates
· A total of 150 candidates out of 402 analyzed i.e. 37% are crorepatis. In 2007, there were only 21% crorepati candidates.
· The top three candidates who have declared the highest assets are Balvantsinh Chadansinh Rajput of INC from Sidhpur constituency who has declared the highest assets worth Rs. 268 crores, followed by Siddharth Chimanbhai Patel, of INC from Dabhoi constituency with Rs. 71 crores worth of assets and D.D.Patel of BJP from Mansa constituency with assets worth Rs. 69 crores.
·         While the candidate with lowest assets is Balwantbhai Gopalbhai Solanki of SP from Kalol constituency who has declared that he has no assets.
· A total of 19 candidates out of 402 analyzed have declared assets less than Rs. 1 Lakh.
· A total of 33 candidates out of 402 analyzed have declared liabilities of Rs. 50 lakhs or above.
· Balvantsinh Chandansinh Rajput, an INC candidate from Sidhpur has declared the highest liabilities worth Rs. 52.33 Crores followed by Manibhai J.Vaghela of INC from Vadgam constituency with liabilities of Rs. 13.98 Crores and Patel Dineshbhai Balubhai a BJP candidate from Padra constituency with liabilities of Rs. 11.53 Crores.
· among major parties, the average asset per candidate for INC is Rs 7.95 Crores, for BJP is 6.40 Crores, for GPP is 1.19 Crores, for BSP is 14.65 Lakhs, for JD (U) is 13.66 Lakhs, for SP is 24.94 Lakhs, and for NCP is Rs 1.33 Crores.
· 86 out of 402 (21%) candidates analyzed in the second phase of the Gujarat 2012 Assembly Elections have not declared their PAN details.
· A total of 181 candidates (45%) out of the 402 candidates analyzed by the Gujarat Election Watch have declared that they have never filed income tax returns.
· Of the 181 candidates analyzed who have declared that they have never filed income tax returns, BJP has 18 (20%) out of 92 candidates, INC has 19 (22%) out of 88 candidates, GPP has 32 (44%) out of 73 candidates, BSP has 62 (85%) out of 73 candidates, and JD (U) has 21(70%) out of 30 candidates who have not filed their IT Returns ever.
· High assets buy mo IT Return: Top 3 candidates with maximum assets but who have declared that they have never filed IT returns are Dilipkumar Virajibhai Thakor of BJP contesting from Chanasama constituency with total assets of Rs. 4.73 crores. He is followed by Kantibhai M Sodhaparmar of INC from Anand with assets of Rs. 4.41 crores and Mangalbhai Shankarjbhai Gohil of GPP from Vaghodia with assets worth Rs. 3.73 crores respectively.

Education qualification
· A total of 131 (33%) candidates (out of 402 analyzed) are graduate or with higher educational qualification in the Second faze of the Gujarat 2012 Assembly Election.

Age
· A total of 31 candidates out of the total analyzed are more than 65 years of age. ·
The average assets growth of the re-contesting candidates
·         82 re-contesting (candidates who fought elections in 2007 and now in 2012 are again in the fray) candidates have been analyzed for the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly Elections 2012
·         The average assets of candidates in 2007 was Rs 2.35 crore while the assets of these re-contesting candidates now in 2012 Rs 9.31 crore. the average percentage growth in assets for these re-contesting candidates is 295%
· Balvantsinh Chandansinh Rajput of INC from Sidhpur constituency has declared maximum increase in assets with an increase of Rs 233.73 crores i.e. from Rs. 34.66 crores in 2007 to Rs. 268.40 crores in 2012. Assets of PatelDineshbhai Balubhai (of BJP from Padra) have increased by Rs 34.89 crores, from Rs 4.51 crores in 2007 to Rs 39.41 crores in 2012. Assets of Aacharya Dr.Nimaben Bhavesbhai(of BJP from Bhuj) have risen by Rs 32.30 crores, from Rs 2.34 crores in 2007 to Rs 34.64 crores in 2012.