Third phase Odisha polls: BJD's Pinaki Mishra richest candidate in fray

Bhubaneswar: BJD's Pinaki Mishra is the richest among candidates of Lok Sabha constituencies going to polls in the third phase with assets over Rs 117 crore, revealed a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Odisha Collection Watch today.

Among Assembly candidates, Congress candidate from Baramba Assembly constituency, Bobby Mohanty is the richest with assets more than Rs 106.32 crore.

Among other Lok Sabha candidates, BJP candidate from Sambalpur, Nitesh Gangdev is the second richest with total assets of more than Rs 26 crore followed by senior Congress leader Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo with assets over Rs 15 crore.

Similarly, among Assembly candidates, Niranjan Patnaik is the second richest candidate with total assets over Rs 60 crore followed by Independent candidate from Champua, Srimanta Tripathi, with total assets of Rs 46 crore.

Out of 356 candidates in 42 Assembly constituencies, 103 candidates are crorepatis, the ADR report revealed. The report also highlighted that there are 38 women candidates which constitute 11 per cent of the total number of candidates in the 3rd phase polls.

State co-ordinator of Odisha Election Watch, Ranjan Mohanty said, "Congress Assembly candidate Bobby Mohanty declared his assets of worth Rs 106 crore while Congress president Niranjan Patnaik owns assets of Rs 60 crore. An independent candidate Srimanta Tripathi has declared more than Rs 46 crore assets."