7 have assets of less than Rs 1,000

At least seven candidates in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls own assets worth less than Rs 1,000, with one of them having zero net worth.

Pabitra Bauri, fighting from Para (SC) constituency in Purulia district on a ticket by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has no money neither in cash nor in bank account, according to the affidavit he submitted before the EC.

The 32-year-old social worker owns no other assets too nor has any liabilities as mentioned in his self-sworn affidavit. “I am unemployed and involved in social work. I don’t have any money,” Mr Bauri told PTI, admitting he was never active in politics till recently.

Four others from SUCI(C) and two from the BSP have net worth less than a thousand rupees, according to their affidavits.

SUCI(C) candidate Tanushree Dalai, who is fighting from West Midnapore’s Chandrakona (SC) constituency, has shown cash in hand of Rs 500 only and claims to possess no other financial assets at all.

The 29-year-old who completed his MA in 2009 from Kharagpur College lives in Khudmarai village with her parents.

A newcomer to politics, she has described her profession as social worker.