82 Zilla Parishad Members in Odisha have Criminal Records

Insight Bureau: As per a report by the Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 82 newly elected Zilla Parishad (ZP) members in Odisha have criminal cases against themselves. 65 (9 per cent) ZP members are facing serious criminal charges including cases related to attempt to murder, crimes against women etc.

The ADR on Tuesday shared the data regarding criminal cases, assets, education and age after analysing the affidavits of 726 out of 851 winning ZP candidates in the just-concluded panchayat elections in Odisha.

While 15 elected members have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307), 12 members are facing cases related to crimes against women.

Out of 661 analysed ZP members from ruling BJD, 66 (10 per cent) members have declared criminal cases themselves while six (16 per cent) out of 37 ZP members from BJP are facing similar charges.

Similarly, 7 (32 per cent) out of 22 elected members of Congress, 1 (33 per cent) out of 3 members from JMM, one (100 per cent) out of one member from CPI-M, and one (50 per cent) out of two independent members have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

The ADR further said that 53 (8 per cent) out of 661 ZP members from BJD, 4 (11 per cent) out of 37 members from BJP, 6 (27 per cent) out of 22 members from Congress, one (33 per cent) out of three members from JMM and one (50 per cent) out of two independent members have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.

Out of the 726 zilla parishad members analysed, 95 (13 per cent) are crorepatis, of which highest 90 members are from the ruling BJD.

Three BJD members have declared a total asset worth Rs 18.68 crore, Rs 17.06 crore and Rs 10.21 crore, respectively and are on the top of the list.

As many as three out of 37 ZP members from BJP and 2 out of 22 ZP members from Congress have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.

The average of assets per zilla parishad member in Odisha is Rs 56.60 lakh, the report said.

The ADR further report said that 451 members have declared their educational qualification to be between 5th pass and 12th pass, while 256 (35 per cent) members have declared having an educational qualification of graduate and above.

Out of 726 zilla parishad members analysed, 385 (53 per cent) members are women, it said.