New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party which came into existence with the aim of cleansing politics seems is loosing the “aam aadmi” roots. According to the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), many of the party workers who have doubled their wealth since December 2013, have been given tickets for the forthcoming Delhi Elections.
The Congress and BJPcandidates have become poorer as their average assets have fallen to 9.60 crore and 7.96 crore from 14.25 crore and 8.29 crore respectively while AAP candidates have gone up from Rs.2.49 crore in 2013 to Rs.5.89 crore in 2015.
Apart from this, AAP's 23 candidates contesting the Delhi Elections have criminal cases pending against them, and 11 of them are charged seriously. Their rivals Congress have 11 serious out of 21 tainted candidates while the ruling BJP has the maximum of 27 candidates charged with criminal cases out of which 17 are serious.
In all, 17% of all candidates in the fray have criminal cases against them, up from 14% in 2008 and 16% in 2013, ADR said. In 19 constituencies there are atleast three candidates charged having criminal cases pending against them.
The use of money power has also gone up in the Delhi polls. Congress fielded the maximum of 59 crorepatis while BJP and AAP have fielded 69 and 50 crorepatis each out of 69 and 70 respectively.
The richest candidate is Shiromani Akali Dal's Manjinder Singh Sirsa from Rajouri Garden constituency followed by AAP's Parmila Tokas contesting from RK Puram.
According to the income tax returns, five candidates have an annual income of above one crore out of which two belong to the Aam Aadmi Party and rest of three to BJP, Congress and Akali Dal.
Of the 673 candidates contesting the upcoming Delhi Elections from 70 constituencies, 230 are crorepatis which accounts for 34% of the total. Earlier in Decemeber 2013 Elections, 265 candidates out of 796 were having their assets value above one crore.
80% of candidates have announced their assets value under one lakh ahead of elections on February 7, out of which no one belongs to Congress, BJP or AAP. Sushil Kumar Mishra from Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha has interestingly announced zero of his assets value.
AAP and Congress are contesting from all 70 seats while BJP and Akali from 69 and 1 seats in the elections to be held on February 7 and the results will be announced on February 10.
