Crorepati politicians in poor Orissa

Certainly this is the paradox of Indian politics, when we pride it ourselves of choosing some richest politician who let many of us hungry while accumulating wealth on our behalf. Same in the case of a poor state like Orissa where there are around 65 crorepati candidates in the fray for the second and last phase of elections.

Orissa, presently ruled by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), is a state with high rate of unemployment and poverty; still there are candidates who are having assets worth Rs 100 crores.

According to the voluntary body Orissa Election Watch (OEW), BJP candidate Dr. Bibhuti Bhusan Harichandan and sitting MLA from chilika assembly segment in Khurda District possesses a net asset of Rs 1,06,50,06,467. Then again, the independent candidate from Champua assembly segment Jitu Pattanaik owns 105 crores of rupees.

Among other richest candidates who are contesting in the second phase of election are Niranjan Pattanaik from G Hasipura (Congress), Kusha Apatta Champua (Independent), and another Congress candidate from Champua, Sanatan Mahakuda.

Earlier, prior to the first phase poll in the state, the National Election Watch had reported a total of 27 crorepatis, including BJD’s Pinaki Mishra (29.69 crore), Congress candidate from Keonjhar, Dhananjaya Sidhu (Rs 27 crore), BJD candidate from Kendrapara, Baijayant Panda (Rs 17.75 crore), independent candidate Chitta Ranjan Munda (Rs 1.23 crore), Ranjib Biswal of Congress (Rs 1.40 crore), and BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahatab with gross assets worth Rs 5.1 crore.

Many of them are either seating or former MLAs/MPs. They are in the democratic process to purchase votes giving bribes to uneducated and vulnerable voters to come to the affluent post and run the so called business of politics or vice versa.

In the second phase poll on Thursday (April 23), Orissa polled for 11 Lok Sabha and 77 assembly seats where 688 candidates are contesting for assembly and 84 for the MP seats. People hope for some kind of positive change in their usual lives but the result can only seen after the elections and the governance by those of our crorepati politicians in the years to come.