As many as 91 candidates are Crorepatis and 37 candidates face criminal cases out of 173 candidates contesting the Manipur phase-I state assembly elections on February 27, reveal the MEW and ADR report released to Media on Friday, February 18.
The Manipur Election Watch (MEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the civil society groups, which are seeking electoral reforms to cleanse Indian democracy of money and muscle power in elections, have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 173 candidates, who are contesting in the Manipur assembly elections Phase I.
Out of 173 candidates, 37 (21%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their self-sworn affidavits submitted to the Election Commission of India. Out of this, 27(16%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. As many 11(29%) out of 38 candidates, are from BJP, seven (25%) out of 28 candidates are from JD(U), eight (23%) out of 35 candidates are from INC and three (11%) out of 27 candidates are from NPP.
As many as 10(26%) out of 38 candidates from BJP, five from JD(U), four from INC and two from NPP, have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their self-sworn affidavits. The two candidates each have declared crime against women and murder (IPC Section-302) against themselves and six have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) against themselves.
There are three out of 38 constituencies, red alert constituencies as more than 3 or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. The directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in selection of candidates in Phase I of the Manipur Assembly Elections as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 21% candidates with criminal cases.
There is no dearth of Crorpatis fielded by the parties in Manipur. Out of the 173 candidates, 91(53%) are crorepatis that has proved beyond doubt that role of money power in Manipur elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties have given tickets to wealthy candidates. 21(78%) out of 27 candidates are from NPP, 27(71%) out of 38 candidates are from BJP, 18(51%) out of 35 candidates are from Indian National Congress(INC) and 14 (50%) out of 28 candidates are from 
JD(U) as they all have declared assets valued more than Rs 1 crore.
The average assets per candidate is Rs 2.51 Crores. But average assets of 27 NPP candidates is Rs 3.48 Crores, 38 BJP candidates’ is Rs 2.84 Crores, 28 JD(U) candidates’ is Rs 2.67 Crores and 35 INC candidates’ is Rs. 1.93 Crores.
Three Crorepatis- Sapam Nishikant Singh(Independent), who is contesting from Keisamthong constituency in Imphal west is the richest, with declared assets worth Rs 29 crore. Khombongmayum Suresh Singh contesting from Uripok in Imphal west is the second richest who has assets worth Rs 18 crore. Sephu Haokip contesting from Henglep (ST) in Churachandpur district is the third richest with Rs 18 crore assets.
As many as 98 candidates have declared that they have liabilities to pay. But top three- Khanthang Tonsing (NPP), Thanlon (ST)constituency has Rs 2 crore, Sapam Nishikant Singh(Independent) contesting from Keisamthong has to pay Rs 2 crore as liabilities, Sangolshem Kebi Devi(BJP) contesting from Naoria Pakhanglakpa has declared assets of Rs 6 crore assets and she has to pay Rs one crore liability.
NCP candidate Ningthoujam Popilal Singh from Sekmai (SC) constituency has declared zero assets in his self-sworn affidavit.
Manipur candidates are better educated. As many as 37(21%) candidates say they fall between 5th and 12th standard, while 133(77%) candidates have declared that they are graduate or above and three candidates are diploma holders.
The parties have fielded candidates from all age groups. As many 23(13%) candidates say they are in 25-40 years age group, while 115 (66%) fall in 41- 60 years age group. There are 33(19 %) candidates fall in 61-80 age group, 2 candidates are over 80 years.
As with other states, Manipur parties are also not keen to give tickets to women candidates. Just 15(9%) female candidates are contesting in the Manipur assembly election 2022 Phase I.
Though the parties plead that the cases the candidates face are politically motivated and the candidates are popular, but the ADR reject their pleas as baseless excuses and unfounded.
ADR recommend to the ECI that to remedy the existing problem of criminalization warrants plausible solutions offered by various committees, civil society and citizens. “Supreme Court of India, ultimate custodian of “Justice and Rule of Law” should reprimand political parties and politicians for their complete lack of will, reprehensible predilection and absence of required laws”.
The candidates convicted for heinous crimes like murder, rape, smuggling, dacoity, kidnapping should be disqualified forever for elections, ADR demands.
(Kuldeep Chauhan, Editor, HimbuMail)
