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With less than 10 days to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, candidates in the fray have disclosed their personal information, including assets, criminal cases, and education. As per the ADR report, Congress MP Nakul Nath (Rs 717 crore), BJP’s Dhevanathan Yadav T (Rs 304 crore), and Karti P Chidambaram of the Congress (Rs 96 crore) are some of the richest candidates in the first phase of the polls

The first phase of the highly-anticipated Lok Sabha elections 2024 will take place on 19 April, with the counting of votes set for 4 June.

With less than 10 days to the general elections, candidates in the fray have disclosed their personal information, including assets, criminal cases, education, and others.

According to an analysis of the candidates conducted by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), about 28 per cent of them in phase one are “crorepatis,” i.e. they possess assets exceeding Rs 1 crore.

The report shows the average assets per candidate amount to Rs 4.51 crore, showing the massive disparity in wealth.

It suggests all four RJD candidates, 35 out of 36 candidates of the AIADMK, 21 out of 22 DMK candidates, 69 out of 77 BJP candidates, 49 out of 56 Congress nominees, four out of five TMC candidates, and 18 out of 86 BSP candidates have assets exceeding Rs 1 crore.

Here’s a look at some of the richest candidates contesting in the first phase of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Meet the richest candidates in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls 2024

  1. According to the ADR report, Congress MP Nakul Nath – the son of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath – is the richest candidate in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Contesting from Chhindwara, he has declared assets worth Rs 717 crore in his election affidavit.

  2. The second richest candidate in phase one of this election is the AIADMK candidate from Tamil Nadu’s Erode, Ashok Kumar, with declared assets of Rs 662 crore.

  3. BJP candidate contesting from Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga, Dhevanathan Yadav T follows next, with assets worth Rs 304 crore.

  4. BJP’s Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah stands fourth on the list, with assets worth Rs 206 crore.

  5. With declared assets worth Rs 159 crore, BSP candidate from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur Majid Ali comes fifth.

  6. BJP candidate contesting from Tamil Nadu’s Vellore Ac Shanmugam has declared assets worth Rs 152 crore. He submitted his nomination papers to the District Returning Officer, Subbulakshmi, on 25 March, as per ANI.

  7. Member of the Hosur Corporation Council and AIADMK’s candidate from Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri, Jayaprakash stands seventh, with declared assets worth Rs 135 crore. According to The Hindu, he was previously associated with the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) until 2010, after which he switched sides.

  8. Incumbent Congress MP Vincent H Pala has declared assets worth Rs 125 crore, making him the wealthiest politician in Meghalaya. He is contesting from Shillong in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

  9. BJP leader Jyoti Mirdha, who is contesting from Rajasthan’s Nagaur constituency, has assets of Rs 102 crore. Dr Mirdha was previously associated with Congress and jumped ship in September last year.

  10. Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram has declared assets worth Rs 96 crore. He is contesting from Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga.