THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When it comes to the wealthiest candidates contesting the assembly polls this time, Kerala has those from less powerful parties topping the list. The richest, as of now, is from the BJP—not a major force in the slender southern state.
Its Palakkad candidate, C Udayabhasker, has declared assets worth Rs 58 crore—between him and his wife Vilasini.
The couple, in the process, edged out the richest candidate of the 2006 Assembly election. Kuttanad MLA Thomas Chandy of the NCP is contesting the 2011 elections too, and has assets worth Rs 46.78 crore, of which Rs 4.2 crore is in the name of his wife Mary. As for liquid cash, the Thomas as Rs 1 lakh in hand, and his wife Rs 50,000. The businessman says that his major investment is in agriculture: worth Rs 1.2 crore.
On his part, Udayabhasker, who is also into business and own four cars, raked up controversy by distributing saris among voters. The cash he has in hand, the candidate says, is Rs 22.84 lakh, while his wife has Rs 16.16 lakh. Their bank deposits total Rs 11 crore.
The third in the list of crorepatis is P V Gangadharan.
He is from a leading party: the Congress.
And is its candidate of Kozhikode North. Gangadharan and his wife together have moveable and immoveable assets worth Rs 19.25 crore. The couple has gold worth Rs 8.35 lakh.
Occupying the fourth slot is again an NCP candidate.
Mani C Kappan, who is putting up a tough fight to veteran K M Mani at Pala, has assets worth Rs 12.78 crore—his wife’s included.
Together they have just Rs 1.65 lakh in hand. He owns a Toyota Innova, and the couple has gold and jewellery worth Rs 18.4 lakh.
The fifth riches is from the JD(S). M V Shreyamskumar is fighting from hilly Kalpetta, and his son of politician-writer-editor M P Veerendrakumar, a former Union minister. The total assets of Shreyams and his wife is Rs 6.5 crore.
He has Rs 3.50 crore worth of land and buildings, and bank deposits totalling Rs 81,23,596.