Guwahati, 17th April: In the run-up to Assam’s highly anticipated Lok Sabha elections on April 19, a striking trend has emerged, with a significant number of candidates flaunting substantial wealth in their bid for parliamentary seats. Among the 35 contenders vying for victory, a notable 15 have declared assets exceeding Rs one crore, painting a picture of financial prowess in the political arena.
Leading the pack of ‘crorepati’ candidates is independent contestant Diluwara Begum Chowdhury, who stands as the wealthiest aspirant in the Kaziranga constituency. With a portfolio boasting total assets exceeding Rs 17.58 crore, Chowdhury’s wealth, primarily invested in immovable assets, underscores the affluent nature of some political contenders in the electoral fray.
The battleground for the upcoming elections spans five constituencies – Jorhat, Kaziranga, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, and Lakhimpur. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds a prominent presence with five candidates, trailed by three Congress nominees, two from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and one each from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and Bharatiya Gana Parishad (BGP). Additionally, three independent candidates are also in contention, adding further diversity to the electoral landscape.
Delving into the financial profiles of the candidates reveals intriguing insights. AAP candidates lead the asset declaration charts, boasting an average wealth of Rs six crore, followed closely by BJP contenders with over Rs four crore. Congress candidates trail with declared assets averaging Rs three crore, while both AITC and BGP nominees report assets totaling Rs one crore each.
Notable mentions among the ‘crorepati’ candidates include AAP’s Manoj Dhanowar and Rishiraj Kaundinya, alongside BJP’s Sonitpur nominee Ranjit Dutta, Union Minister Sarbananada Sonowal, and incumbent MP Topon Gogoi. In the Congress camp, Uday Shankar Hazarika and Gaurav Gogoi lead the asset declaration, closely followed by Premlal Ganju.
However, the financial spectrum also accommodates candidates with considerably modest assets. Two contestants from the Kaziranga constituency report assets below Rs one lakh, while SUCI(C)’s Lakhimpur candidate, Pallab Pegu, declares the least with Rs 38,169.
As voters gear up to cast their ballots, the financial standing of candidates adds an intriguing dimension to the electoral discourse, shedding light on the diverse economic backgrounds represented in the political arena.
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