Srinagar, Sep 7, KNT: The data from the Association of Democratic Reform (ADR) has revealed that a staggering 50% of the 219 candidates contesting in the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are crorepatis.
The Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the highest number of crorepatis, with 18 out of 21 candidates falling into this category. Abdul Gaffar Sofi from the PDP is the richest candidate in the first phase, with declared assets worth over Rs 66 crore, followed by Imtiaz Ahmed Shan from the same party with assets worth over Rs 34 crore.
The National Conference (NC) has 16 out of 18 candidates with assets over Rs 1 crore, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 11 out of 16 candidates and the Congress has 8 out of 9 candidates in the same bracket.
Only one candidate from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) falls in the list of crorepatis. [KNT]