Poorest Candidates in the initial phase of the elections.

In March, Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister publicly announced her decision to abstain from contesting the Lok Sabha elections due to financial constraints. Despite possessing assets worth Rs 2.53 crore in 2022, Sitharaman expressed reservations about the adequacy of her resources for candidacy. This stands in stark contrast to Ponraj K, an independent candidates from Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, whose declared assets amount to a meager Rs 320, making him the poorest candidate in the initial phase of the elections.

Interestingly, only four candidates in the first phase possess assets totaling Rs 1,000 or less. Excluding Kartik Gendlalji Doke, an independent candidate from Maharashtra's Ramtek constituency with assets worth Rs 500, the remaining three candidates are from Tamil Nadu.

According to Election Commission data, Krishnan S emerges as the wealthiest among the top ten poorest candidates, with assets valued at Rs 3,500. Notably, Tamil Nadu dominates this list, with eight candidates representing the state, while one candidate each hails from Puducherry and Maharashtra. With the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections arranged on April 19, 102 constituencies across 21 states and union territories are preparing for polling. These elections carry significant importance as voters select their representatives to the Parliament.

Richest candidates of Lok Sabha

In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the first phase sees a significant presence of affluent candidates, with around 28% labeled as 'crorepatis', holding assets surpassing Rs 1 crore. Leading this group is Nakul Nath, the son of former Kamal Nath Former Chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, contesting from Chhindwara. Nakul Nath boasts declared assets worth an impressive Rs 716 crore, including movable assets of Rs 6,68,86,18,696 and immovable assets of Rs 48,07,86,443, making him the wealthiest candidate in this phase.

Candidates
Image: GQ India

Following Nakul Nath is Ashok Kumar, representing the AIADMK in Erode, Tamil Nadu, with declared assets amounting to Rs 662 crore, comprising movable assets valued at Rs 5,73,91,87,500 and immovable assets at Rs 88,55,00,000. Dhevanathan Yadav T, the BJP candidate from Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, secures the third position with assets worth Rs 304 crore, including movable assets totaling Rs 2,53,67,95,456 and immovable assets of Rs 51,24,26,224.

In the fourth and fifth positions are Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah of the BJP, contesting from Tehri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, with assets worth Rs 206 crore, and Majid Ali of the BSP from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, with assets declared at Rs 159 crore. Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah's movable assets are Rs 55,30,39,424, and immovable assets amount to Rs 1,51,57,00,000.

Meanwhile, Majid Ali's movable assets stand at Rs 94,56,67,697, and immovable assets at Rs 65,02,32,382. Other notable candidates include Ac Shanmugam from Vellore, Tamil Nadu (Rs 152 crore), Jayaprakash from Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu (Rs 135 crore), Vincent H. Pala from Shillong (ST), Meghalaya (Rs 125 crore), Jyoti Mirdha from Nagaur, Rajasthan (Rs 102 crore), and Karti P Chidambaram from Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu (Rs 96 crore). These candidates, among others, will vie in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, starting on April 19. This phase encompasses 102 constituencies across 21 states and union territories, marking the commencement of a pivotal electoral process.

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