Father-Son Duo Richest Among Odisha Candidates In Fourth-Phase Polls

Bhubaneswar: Congress’ Navajyoti Patnaik and his father and Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik are the richest among candidates in the fray for fourth-phase polls in Odisha, a joint study by the Odisha Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said on Friday.

Navajyoti is the party nominee for Balasore Lok Sabha seat, while the OPCC president is contesting from two assembly seats – Ghasipura and Bhandaripokhari.

Of 52 Lok Sabha candidates, 17 (33%) have assets worth more than Rs 1 crore. Navajyoti is worth more than Rs 104 crore while BJD candidate Rabindra Jena and BJP candidate Baijayant Panda have assets over Rs 72 crore and Rs 57 crore respectively.

Of 334 Assembly candidates, 81 (24%) are crorepatis of which Niranjan Patnaik is the richest with total assets of more than Rs 60 crore while Congress candidate Chiranjab Biswal and BJD candidate Pranab Balabantaray are worth over Rs 33 crore and Rs 17 crore respectively.