As West Bengal votes in the first phase of Assembly elections, candidate affidavits reveal a sharp contrast between the wealthiest contestants and those with minimal declared assets, alongside a sizable proportion facing criminal cases.

Jakir Hossain of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) is the richest candidate in this phase, declaring total assets of about ₹133 crore. His disclosures include equity investments worth over ₹50 crore, loans and advances exceeding ₹18.5 crore, bank deposits of more than ₹3.5 crore, and gold jewellery valued at over ₹62 lakh. He has also declared immovable assets worth ₹58.65 crore.

Goutam Mishra (AITC) follows with movable assets of ₹57.53 crore and immovable assets valued at ₹48.22 crore. Another AITC nominee, Kabi Dutta, has declared ₹40.66 crore in movable assets and ₹32.07 crore in immovable property.

Among other wealthiest candidates are Dilip Saha (BJP) and Bayron Biswas (AITC), with total assets exceeding ₹40 crore and ₹30 crore, respectively.

At the other end of the spectrum is Rubiya Begam of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, who has declared movable assets of just ₹500 and no immovable property.

Sushrita Saren and Jashoda Barman of SUCI(C) have declared ₹700 and ₹924 respectively. Jyoti Kujur (BSP) and Mustafijur Rahaman, an Independent candidate, have declared ₹1,000 each. All five have reported zero immovable assets.

businessline’s analysis shows that AITC has fielded the highest number of candidates with assets exceeding ₹10 crore in this phase, with 11 such nominees.

The BJP follows with 10 candidates in the ₹10 crore-plus bracket, while the Congress has 9. The CPI(M), Aam Janata Unnayan Party, Independents, All India Secular Front, and Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha have one candidate each in this category.

Criminal disclosures remain significant. All major parties have fielded between 26 per cent and 70 per cent of their candidates in Phase 1 with declared criminal cases.

Party-wise, 70 per cent of BJP candidates have declared criminal cases, followed by 44 per cent of CPI(M), 43 per cent of AITC and 26 per cent of Congress nominees.

43 per cent of the constituencies going to polls in this phase have been classified as “red alert” seats, where three or more candidates have declared criminal cases.

Demographically, candidates aged between 41 and 60 years dominate the fray, accounting for just over half of the total analysed. Nearly 49 per cent are graduates or above. Women remain underrepresented, with 167 candidates making up only 11 per cent of the total field.

With inputs from Aleena Rose Jose

Published on April 17, 2026