'Richie Rich' politicians in 'Pauper' region
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 15, 2013 -
Next time, if anyone from the Northeast including media wants to say or write about the region describing as underdeveloped and economically poor, they should think over twice, lest they have to eat the words afterward.
Who would believe Northeast India to be a poor and underdeveloped region when there are so many crorepatis around?
Keeping aside the number of 'Richie Rich' politicians in other Northeastern States, the three poll-bound States of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura have amply showed how filthy rich are the representatives of the 'poor' people in the region.
According to the reports of the Election Watch Groups (EWGs), which have been set up in all election-bound States of the country under the joint initiative of the Association for Democratic Reforms and the National Election Watch following a landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India in 2003, out of 249 candidates in the fray for the 60-seat Tripura Assembly, for which election was witnessed today (February 14), there are at least sixteen crorepatis.
Out of these sixteen crorepatis, 12 belong to the Opposition Congress, one to the ruling CPI (M), one to BJP and the rest are independents.
In case of Meghalaya, where the election to its 60-member State Assembly would be held on February 23, as many as 113 'crorepatis' are there out of the total 345 contesting candidates in the fray to become the 'elected representatives of the people'.
The ruling Congress is fielding 35 "crorepati" candidates including four women, ally United Democratic Party (UDP) have 23 'crorepatis' while 17 other 'crorepati' candidates belong to the Opposition NPP, HSPDP, SP, NCP and BJP.
Likewise, of the 188 candidates in the fray for the 60-seat Nagaland Assembly which would also go to poll along with Meghalaya on February 23, there are at least 84 'crorepatis' with former Chief Minister KL Chisi in the top spot followed by incumbent Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in the second place.
Congress stalwart KL Chisi, who is contesting the election from Dimapur-1 Assembly Constituency, has declared assets worth Rs 50.19 crores, while incumbent Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of NPF, who is up for the North Angami-2 Assembly Constituency, possessed assets worth Rs 30.07 crores.
Former Opposition leader I Imkong of Congress party, who is contesting from Janpetkong Assembly Constiruency, is the third richest candidate with assets worth of Rs 18.23 crores.
From all these information provided by the respective Election Watch Groups (EWGs) of the three election-bound Northeastern State based on the analysis of the affidavits submitted by the candidates, at least one thing we can rest assure - one does not have to be necessarily associated or belong to a ruling party to become 'Richie Rich' politicians in the region.
Because when it comes to looting the public fund sanctioned by the Centre for development of the region, there is perfect unanimity among the politicians regardless of whether they are warming the bench of the Opposition or the Ruling while discussing the 'so-called' developmental issues in the State Assemblies.
Having said that, we are finding it hard to understand the working of electioneering system in the 'world's largest democracy', where politicians dutifully disclose their increasing assets at each election, but never ask question on how these politicians have acquired their wealth while 'serving the poor people'.
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