Over half of candidates haven't cleared class 12

ASSAM ELECTIONS PHASE I

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, April 1: Amid the debate over fixing of minimum educatiol qualification for candidates contesting elections, there are some disturbing revelations for voters in Assam ahead of the assembly elections.

The educatiol qualification of as many as 301 (56 per cent) of the 539 candidates contesting the first phase of assembly elections is between 5th pass and 12th pass.

In all, 221 (41%) candidates have declared having an educatiol qualification of graduate or above, according to the Association of Democratic Reforms which alyzed their affidavits.

Nine candidates have declared themselves to be simple literates and one candidate – CPI(ML)'s Mira Tanti (Tingkhong) -  has declared herself to be an illiterate.

There are 59 post-graduates in the pack and only two doctorates.

When it comes to age, there appears to be a healthy mix of youth and experience. 344 (64%) candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 50 years while 189 (35%) candidates have declared their age to be between 51 and 80 years.

One candidate – Independent Premadhar Bora (Bihpuria) - is above 80 years of age, while five candidates have not disclosed their age details. Congress’ Prab Kumar Gogoi (Sivasagar) and Bithika Dev (Silchar) are 80 years of age.

Significantly, the Harya government had recently ected a law making it mandatory for persons desiring to contest for urban local bodies to be matriculate and have a functiol toilet at home.

The law aims at strengthening the urban local bodies, the third tier of governce and improving its efficiency, transparency and accountability by making minimum stipulated education a necessary qualification for office-bearers of urban local bodies, according to the government.