The report is an outcome of the analysis of self-sworn affidavits of the 143. It analyses the criminal, financial, educational and other details of the candidates.
Fifteen of the 143 have criminal charges registered against them. Of these, six face serious ones such as murder, kidnap, criminal intimidation and crimes against women.
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Two of the eight candidates fielded by the Congress party have said they have criminal cases against them. The Bharatiya Janata Party has 18 candidates in this phase, of whom three have declared criminal cases. So, too, for two of the Bahujan Samaj Party's 18 and one of the Samajwadi Party's five. Chief Minister Raman Singh, in the fray from Rajnandgaon constituency, has the highest declared annual income, of Rs 32.26 lakh, according to the latest income tax return filed for 2012-13. The BJP's Dinesh Gandhi (Dongargaon seat) comes next with Rs 13.66 lakh and Chhattisgarh Swabhiman Manch's Jhadu Ram Nareti (Kanker) follows with Rs 13.14 lakh, for 2011-12.
Most of the candidates have claimed exemption from paying income tax.
The average assets of candidates who are recontesting is Rs 1.16 crore. And, the average percentage growth in assets for those recontesting, compared to five years earlier, has been 260 per cent.
Of the 24 recontesting candidates, 12 were sitting MLAs and their assets have grown by 330 per cent since 2008. Ten sitting BJP (the ruling party) MLAs have shown an average asset increase of Rs 1.54 crore and two Congress MLAs have shown an average asset increase of Rs 61.3 lakh.
A total of 54 of the 143 are graduates or have higher degrees. Eighty eight have an educational qualification of Class XII pass or below.
A total of 104 candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 50. Thirty-six say they are between 51 and 70 years.
There are only 11 women. Among the major parties, the Congress has fielded three women and the BJP, two.