At least 10 candidates in four Lok Sabha seats, located in the poverty zone of Odisha and going to polls in the first phase on April 11, are crorepatis. The first phase of polls will be held in Koraput, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Berhampur Lok Sabha seats.

Barring Berhampur parliamentary constituency, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi are part of KBK (Kalahandi - Bolangir-Koraput) region, infamous for its poverty. "Of the 26 Lok Sabha candidates, 10 (39 per cent) are crorepatis according to their affidavits filed with the Election Commission of India," said Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, state coordinator of Odisha Election Watch, a part of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Of the 10 crorepatis, three each belong to the BJD, the Congress and the BJP while one is an Independent candidate.