LS polls: 121 candidates illiterate; 359 are just 5th grade pass

New Delhi: As per declarations accompanying poll nominations by candidates in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, 121 candidates are illiterate while 359 have studied up to 5th grade, PTI reported, citing analysis reports by poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

In terms of age, there were eleven candidates who were aged older than 80 years, while 537 candidates were aged from 25 to 30 years,

Further, ADR reports stated that 647 candidates completed education up to the 8th grade, while around 1,303 declared themselves 12th pass and 1,502 declared to have a graduate degree. Then, 198 candidates have a doctorate degree.

To prepare the reports, ADR analysed the educational qualifications of 8,337 candidates out of 8,360 who contested in the LS polls.

In the first phase of the elections, 639 candidates reported their educational qualifications as being between the 5th and 12th grades, while 836 candidates have qualifications of graduate level or higher. Additionally, 36 candidates declared themselves as just literate, 26 as illiterate, and four did not disclose their educational qualifications.

During the second phase, 533 candidates declared their education levels as between the 5th and 12th grades, while 574 candidates reported being graduates or higher. About 37 candidates declared themselves as just literate, eight as illiterate, and three did not provide their educational qualifications.

In the third phase, 639 candidates reported their educational qualifications as being between the 5th and 12th grades, while 591 candidates declared themselves as graduates or higher. Additionally, 56 are just literate, and 19 are illiterate. Three candidates did not disclose their educational qualifications.

For the fourth phase, 644 candidates declared their education levels as between the 5th and 12th grades, while 944 reported being graduates or higher. Thirty candidates declared themselves as just literate, and 26 were illiterate.

In the fifth phase, 293 candidates reported their educational qualifications as being between the 5th and 12th grades, while 349 declared themselves graduates or with higher degrees. Around 20 candidates are just literate, and five are illiterate. Two candidates did not disclose their educational qualifications.

In the sixth phase, 332 candidates declared their educational qualifications as between the 5th and 12th grades, while 487 reported being graduates or higher. There are 22 diploma holders, 12 candidates who are just literate, and 13 who are illiterate.

In the seventh phase, 402 candidates reported their educational qualifications as being between the 5th and 12th grades, while 430 declared themselves as graduates or higher. There are 20 diploma holders, 26 candidates who are just literate, and 24 who are illiterate. Two candidates did not disclose their educational qualifications.

The Election Commission declared the polls to be conducted in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, and the counting is to happen on June 4. So far, five phases have been completed, and the sixth and seventh will happen on May 25th and June, respectively.