Bangalore: As per the survey undertaken by Election Watch, 131 candidates representing Congress and BJP in the upcoming legislative assembly elections have net worth of over several crore.  Besides, 16 candidates are facing criminal charges.

On the basis of the information released by Election Watch convener Trilochana Shastry; the sitting-MLA Priyakrishna who is contesting from Govindraraja Nagar is the richest with net worth of Rs 767 crore.  He has also borrowed loans worth Rs 734 crore.

Haliyala constituency Congress candidate R V Deshpande declared his net worth as Rs 145.57 crore, Vijaya Nagar candidate M Krishnappa declared his net worth as Rs 129.32 crore and Shanti Nagar constituency candidate N A Harris declared his net worth as Rs 85.34 crore, K R Pura constituency BJP candidate N S Nandish declared his net worth as Rs 36.34 crore.

‘The information was gathered from the declarations made by the contesting candidates,’ said Shastry.  Bantwal constituency candidate Ramanat Rai declared his net worth as Rs 1.71 lac, minister Vartoor Prakash declared his net worth as Rs 2 lac and independent MLA Goolihatti Shekar declared his net worth as Rs 4.1 lac who are the sitting-MLAs with lowest net worth.

Nearly 40 percent of 215 MLAs of different political parties have not provided PAN numbers to income tax authorities.  Each MLAs have own assets worth over Rs 5.9 crore, explained Shastry.

Ninety-seven percent of winners in assembly elections held during 2008 are graduates.  Among 194 candidates of both Congress and BJP; Congress candidate Eshwar Kandre declared that he has 4 criminal cases against him.

The minister Balachandra Jarakihole declared that he has been accused in murder, attempted murder and kidnap cases.  Congress candidate Satish Jarakihole also declared that he has cases of murder, kidnap and attempted murder against him, informed Shastry.