JAJPUR : At least four crorepatis are in the fray for the Zilla Parishad (ZP) elections in Jajpur district, while five others contesting for the ZP elections own assets worth over `50 lakh, according to affidavits submitted by the contestants to the State Election Commission.
The four crorepatis, contesting on BJD tickets, are among the 141 candidates trying their luck for 39 seats in Jajpur ZP. BJD candidate Pratap Dhir from ZP zone-8 in Danagadi block is the richest of all the candidates in the district owning movable and immovable assets worth `1.55 crore.
Dhir, a businessman, owns immovable property, besides jewellery, bank savings and agricultural land. However, he owes loans of `38 lakh to banking and financial institutions, according to the affidavit.
Sushant Kumar Mishra, contesting from ZP zone-25 in Binjharpur block and a BJD candidate, possesses assets worth `1.44 crore, which include a housing plot at Bhubaneswar and two luxury vehicles worth `7.5 lakh, 200 grams gold, 2.25 kg silver, landed property, building and bank deposits. Mishra is the chairperson of Jajpur Zilla Parishad (2012-17).
Madhusmita Dhal, a housewife contesting on BJD ticket from ZP zone-29 in Jajpur block, possesses assets worth ` 1.43 crore, which include two housing plots in cities and two luxury vehicles, trucks and tipper worth `65 lakh, 250 grams gold, building, agriculture land and bank deposits. However, she owes no loan from bank or any financial institution, according to the affidavit furnished by her.
Likewise, Niranjan Rout, contesting from ZP zone 13 in Dharmasala block and a BJD candidate, possesses assets worth `1.10 crore, which include movable and immovable property and bank deposits. His liability to banks are `11 lakh, according to the affidavit.
More than five candidates in the fray for ZP own property worth over `50 lakh, while two candidates contesting on BJD tickets from Zilla Parishad zones in Barachana block own nothing, according to the affidavits.
There has, however, been a drop in the number of candidates facing trial in criminal cases this time. Of the 141 candidates, only 20 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. Of them, the highest 11 candidates having criminal cases are from the ruling BJD, while three are from Congress. The BJP accounts for two such candidates while four Independent aspirants have declared criminal cases against them, according to the affidavits.