AGARTALA / GUWAHATI, April 7 (TIWN): A total of 125 crorepatis -- multi-millionaires -- are contesting in the second phase of the Assam assembly elections. The richest among them is All India United Democratic Front founder Badruddin Ajmal with assets worth Rs.54 crore. The crorepatis make 24 percent of the total 523 contestants in 61 seats, NGO Association for Democratic Reforms said on Wednesday. Bharatiya Janata Party's tie-up with a Bodoland party could be productive. But the All India United Democratic Front could spoil the plans of both the Congress and the BJP.In the past, assembly elections in Assam used to be a quiet affair and people outside the state would take little interest in their outcome. This time, the situation is different. Even in faraway Delhi, people are keeping tabs on political developments in Assam.One reason for this piquing of interest could be the presence of a relatively new entrant in Assam politics, the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is undeniably popular in the state -- that is why Tarun Gogoi has turned this year's assembly elections into a battle between himself and Modi.

The BJP has never done well in districts in lower Assam. This time it has forged an alliance with the Bodoland People's Front. In upper Assam, the party's prospects are better: In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, all the seats it got came from this region.

Itesh Bordoloi, an independent from Bongaigaon constituency, is next in the list with total assets of more than Rs.50 crore.

Narayan Deka of the BJP from Barkhetri is the third richest with total assets of Rs.17.23 crore.

ADR said the average assets of the 523 candidates is worth Rs.1.26 crore.

The Congress is the richest party with the average assets of its 57 candidate reaching Rs.2.64 crore.

The BJP is next in the list as 35 of its candidates have average assets of Rs.2.46 crore.

A total of 47 candidates of the AIUDF have average assets worth Rs.2.44 crore, while 19 Asom Gana Parishad candidates have average assets worth Rs.1.37 crore.

A total of 11 candidates of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) have average assets worth Rs.26.43 lakh, nine CPI-M candidates have average assets valued at Rs.82.64 lakh, and five CPI candidates have average assets worth Rs.10.88 lakh.

ADR also said 192 of the 523 candidates have not declared their income tax details, while 10 candidates declared their total annual income as more than Rs.50 lakh.