Amidst the electoral fray of the fifth phase of general elections, Anurag Sharma, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Jhansi Lok Sabha constituency of Uttar Pradesh, emerges as the most financially endowed contender, as per findings unveiled by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). His amassed fortune tallies a staggering sum of Rs 212 crore.
In the electoral theater, other notable figures in terms of pecuniary prowess include independent contender Nilesh Bhagwan Sambare vying for the Bhiwandi seat in Maharashtra, with assets valuing at Rs 116 crore. Additionally, Piyush Goyal, the BJP’s contender for the Mumbai North constituency, commands a substantial fortune worth Rs 110 crore.
This comprehensive report, meticulously compiled by ADR in conjunction with the National Election Watch, meticulously scrutinizes the self-affirmed affidavits of all 695 aspirants contesting in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase V across eight states.
Among the contenders flaunting considerable financial muscle are Suresh Gopinath Mhatre of the BJP, wielding assets amounting to Rs 107 crore, Krishna Nand Tripathi representing the Congress with assets valuing at Rs 70 crore, and Sangeeta Kumari Singh, another BJP nominee, boasting assets totaling Rs 67 crore. Intriguingly, amidst the opulence, one solitary candidate stands out, having declared absolute destitution.
Conversely, on the other end of the spectrum, candidates with more modest financial portfolios include Independent candidate Mohammad Sultan Ganaie, competing for the Baramulla constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, with declared assets of a mere Rs 67. Following suit are Independent candidates Mukesh Kumar, hailing from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, with assets amounting to Rs 700, and Surajit Hembram, contending in Hooghly, West Bengal, with assets valued at Rs 5,427.
The upcoming electoral phase will witness the participation of 695 candidates hailing from eight states and Union Territories. Notably, a total of 1,586 nominations were tendered for the 49 parliamentary constituencies slated for election, with 749 nominations eventually deemed valid following meticulous scrutiny.
As the democratic process unfolds, voters across Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal will exercise their franchise across a diverse array of parliamentary seats.
