Top Ten Richest Candidates In Lok Sabha Election 2024: Ahead of the Lok Sabha Election 2024, the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has analysed candidates for the first phase of polling and revealed that Congress candidate Nakul Nath has topped the chart of richest candidates.

Lok Sabha election is just a week ahead and parties have intensified campaigning. Leaders have declared their assets as per the rules laid by the Election Commission of India. According to an analysis conducted by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), Congress MP Nakul Nath, the son of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, emerged as the wealthiest candidate in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, with assets totaling Rs 717 crore.

Nakul Nath, nominated by the Congress party to defend his Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat, tops the list of wealthiest candidates, followed by AIADMK's Ashok Kumar from Tamil Nadu's Erode, who declared assets worth Rs 662 crore. Meanwhile, BJP candidate Dhevanathan Yadav T from Sivaganga possesses assets amounting to Rs 304 crore.

Chhindwara, a bastion of the Congress party in Madhya Pradesh has remained under its control since 1952, with only a brief stint represented by the BJP in 1997. The seat gained prominence under the veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath, who held it for over two decades from 1998 to 2019. In 2019, Nath's son Nakul succeeded him, securing victory for the grand old party despite the prevailing Modi wave in Madhya Pradesh.

Top Ten Richest Candidates In Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 1:

(List of top ten richest candidates in phase 1 of Lok Sabha elections 2024, Source: ADR)

Meanwhile, BJP's Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah, contesting from Tehri Garhwal, possesses assets worth Rs 206 crore, placing her among the top wealthiest candidates. Following closely is Majid Ali of the BSP, declaring assets worth Rs 159 crore.

An analysis by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) highlights significant wealth disparities among candidates vying for seats in the first phase of the elections. Approximately 28 percent of candidates in this phase are classified as "crorepatis," with assets exceeding Rs 1 crore each. The average assets per candidate stand at Rs 4.51 crores, with notable variations observed across party affiliations, as per the ADR findings.

The analysis further reveals that among major parties, candidates with assets exceeding Rs 1 crore are prevalent. This includes all four candidates of the RJD, 35 out of 36 candidates of the AIADMK, 21 out of 22 candidates of the DMK, 69 out of 77 candidates of the BJP, 49 out of 56 candidates of the Congress, four out of five candidates of the TMC, and 18 out of 86 candidates of the BSP.

Candidates from various political parties filing nominations have disclosed personal details, including assets and any criminal background, as part of the electoral process.

The upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be conducted in seven phases, with the initial phase commencing on April 19. The results will be announced on June 4.