Jamnagar BJP candidate Poonamben Maadam is the richest among the 266 candidates in race to the Lok Sabha from Gujarat, while BSP's Bardoli (Scheduled Tribe) nominee Rekhaben Chaudhary, with only Rs 2,000 in declared assets, is at the opposite end of the spectrum, revealed an analysis of candidate affidavits by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Nearly 26 per cent (68) of candidates in the state are crorepatis — double from 13 per cent in 2009. The BJP has the highest number of crorepati candidates — 24, followed by the Congress with 21 candidates and four from the BSP. The average asset of a candidate stands at Rs 2.43 crore, the analysis reveals. While the average asset of 26 BJP candidates is above Rs 15 crore, it is above Rs 6 crore for Congress's 23 candidates. At more than Rs 147 crore, Maadam's asset value is more than that of Union Home and Cooperation Minister and Gandhinagar candidate Amit Shah, who has Rs 65 crore. With a total of Rs 39 crore, Gujarat BJP chief C R Paatil is at the third position. However, as per the income declared in their tax returns, the top three candidates with the highest income are Paatil, Maadam and Shah with a total income (self, spouse and dependent) of more than Rs 18 crore, Rs 5 crore and Rs 1 crore, respectively. Meanwhile, as per the ADR analysis, the assets of Maadam, who is seeking re-election from the Jamnagar seat, have increased from Rs 42.7 crore in 2019 to Rs 147 crore this year, comprising movable assets of Rs 60 crore and immovable properties of Rs 87 crore. These include assets of her own, her spouse and those of Hindu Undivided Family (HUF). She has declared MP salary, rental income, agricultural income, and business income, among others as the sources of income in the affidavit. Maadam also has the highest liabilities of Rs 53 crore, followed by Congress Patan candidate Chandanji Thakor at Rs 9 crore and his party colleague and Amreli candidate Jenny Thummar with Rs 3 crore. Apart from BSP's Chaudhary, there are candidates like Nilesh Vasaikar, contesting from Vadodara as an independent, with Rs 12,000 in assets and Sabarkantha Gunj Satya Ni Janata Party candidate Varunkumar Katara who has declared only Rs 13,000. The analysis also reveals that 14 per cent of the 266 candidates are named in criminal cases. This includes 8 per cent candidates with serious criminal cases against them. Chaitarbhai Vasava, AAP MLA and INDIA bloc's Bharuch candidate, has been named in 13 cases. He has been slapped with various sections of the IPC such as dacoity (IPC Section 395), house trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment for life (IPC Section 450), sexual harassment (IPC Section 354A), and statements conducing to public mischief (IPC Section-505(1)(b)). Among 36 candidates (14 per cent) with criminal cases, six are from the Congress and four from the BJP, while 18 are independents and the remaining from other parties. When compared to the past three Lok Sabha elections, the number of candidates with criminal records has reduced to almost half — from 69 (19 per cent) in 2009 to 36 (14 per cent) in 2024. On the qualifications parameter, 152 candidates (57 per cent) have declared their educational qualifications to be between Class 5 and Class 12, while 79 (30 per cent) candidates have declared having an educational qualification of graduation or above. Also, 14 candidates are diploma-holders and an equal number of candidates have declared themselves to be just literate, while seven are Illiterate. Out of the 266 candidates, 77 (29 per cent) are in the 25-40 years age group, while 148 (56 per cent) are between 41 to 60 years. Nearly 15 per cent (41 candidates) have declared their ages to be between 61 to 80 years.
