Candidates fielded by the BJP occupy the top two spots in owing assets among all those who are contesting the state Assembly elections in the first phase, a survey conducted by the Bengal chapter of Election Watch has revealed.

However, the largest number of rich candidates in the first phase come from Trinamul.

Of the 191 candidates in the fray in 30 Assembly constituencies that will go to polls on March 27, 19 have assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.

According to the survey, the two candidates — Ambujaksha Mahanti and Sumita Sinha — who have the maximum assets are from the BJP.

Mahanti, the BJP candidate from East Midnapore’s Patashpur constituency, has declared having assets worth over Rs 10 crore.

Mahanti’s party colleague and candidate from Contai North Assembly, Sumita Sinha, has assets worth over Rs 4 crore.

A close third on the list is Trinamul candidate from West Midnapore’s Kharagpur, Dinen Roy, who has declared assets valued at over Rs 3 crore.

On the other end of the spectrum, four candidates, who are all contesting from various seats in Purulia district, have zero assets.

“According to our survey there are 19 crorepati candidates contesting in the first phase of Bengal elections,” an official associated with West Bengal Election Watch, a civil society body, said.

Giving a party-wise break-up of the crorepatis in the fray, the official said: “Two are from the Congress, nine are from the Trinamul, four are from the BJP, two are from the CPM and one is from the BSP.”

This apart, the survey also reveals that the CPM has the highest percentage (56 per cent) of candidates with criminal cases lodged against them.

The corresponding figure for the BJP is 41 per cent and for Trinamul, 28 per cent.