Shimla: BJP MLA Balvir Verma is the richest candidate in Himachal Pradesh, where he will contest for a third time from Chopal assembly constituency in Shimla district, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an election watchdog, said in a report released on Wednesday.
State ADR Convenor O P Bhureta said the Himachal Pradesh Election Watch and ADR have analysed the self- sworn affidavits of all 68 MLAs in the state.
This shows that 50 MLAs (74 per cent) are crorepati (multi-millionaire) and an average MLA has assets of Rs 8.45 crore.
He said BJP MLA Anita Dhiman of Indora (Kangra district) declared assets worth Rs 58 lakh and Balvir Verma from Chopal has declared total assets of 90 cror.
ADR found that 90 per cent voters preferred honest and sober candidates.
The survey conducted among voters found that roads and road connectivity was the top election issue followed by water, health, education, employment and livelihood. Inflation is also a major issue.
ADR analysed criminal cases against 68 MLAs and found that 17 (37 per cent) from BJP and two (10 per cent) Congress MLAs had declared criminal cases against them.
A total of 19 (28 per cent) MLAs have criminal background and eight (12 per cent) have grave and serious crime cases.
Six (13 per cent) of the BJP and two (10 per cent) of Congress MLAs have grave criminal background.
