Image source: IANS, PTI
As political campaigning intensifies ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections, an analysis of candidates’ self-declared assets shows a clear concentration of wealth among the state’s political class.Several sitting members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) participating in the polls are among the richest people in the country’s politically active eastern state, according to data compiled from election affidavits released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Topping the list is Jakir Hossain, an All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MP from Jangipur in Murshidabad, with declared assets totaling over Rs 67 crore. Hussain’s wealth consists mainly of movable assets worth nearly Rs 493 million, and another Rs 179 million in immovable properties.He was followed by Ahmed Javed Khan, who is also a member of AITC and represents Kasba of South 24 Parganas. Khan’s total assets are approximately Rs 32.3 crore, which is attributed to numerous investments and property holdings.The third person on the list is Vivek Gupta of AITC in Cholasankoh, north Kolkata, whose total assets are reported to be over Rs 31.9 crore. Gupta’s investment portfolio includes movable assets of Rs 23.1 crore and immovable assets of nearly Rs 89 crore.Other wealthy sitting MPs include Manoj Tiwary (Shibpur, AITC) and Bayron Biswas (Sagardighi, AITC), with declared assets of around Rs 203 million and Rs 201 million respectively. Both men have substantial property as well as cash and investments.In Kalimpong, Ruden Sada Lepcha of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha has declared assets totaling over Rs 182 million, making him among the top 10 richest candidates.The remaining works in the top ten are:Pradip Mazumdar (AITC, Durgapur Purba) – Rs 18.10 CroreNandita Chowdhury (AITC, Howrah Dakshin) – Rs 15.7 CroreDr. Asok Kumar Chattopadhyay (AITC, Hansan) – Rs 14.7 CroresDulal Chandra Das (AITC, Maheshtala) – Rs 13.7 CroreThe figures underscore the deep pockets of many competing lawmakers, especially those from the ruling Trinamool Congress, and raise questions about the growing role of personal wealth in electoral politics.Most of the candidates said in their affidavits that they have a Permanent Account Number (PAN), a key identifier for tax compliance in India.West Bengal is gearing up for assembly elections, scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4 in both phases.While the electoral battle is mainly between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), several other parties are also in the fray. The Left Front, once the dominant force in the state, is seeking to regain its political presence.The newly formed AJUP, launched by former TMC leader Humayun Kabir, has joined hands with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi to announce candidates for various constituencies.On the eve of the elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a meeting with TMC party workers on Sunday that after winning in the state, the party’s next focus will be national politics and Delhi is the next target, ANI quoted TMC sources as saying.
