A Mumbai-based businessman is the richest candidate in Indias general elections so far with declared net assets worth 103 million dollars, news reports said Friday. Politicians in India have to declare their assets in a legal document when filing papers formalising their intention to contest elections.
Candidates for the first three phases of Indias month-long five-phase elections have filed their nomination papers. Khimji Harjeevan Patadia, a real estate businessman, is contesting elections from Surendranagar constituency in the western state of Gujarat, the Times of India newspaper reported. Patadia is founder and president of the little-known Krantikari Jaihind Sena party.
A college dropout, Patadia was born in Sanosara village in Gujarat and made his fortune after moving to Indias financial capital Mumbai in the 1970s. Patadia declared in an affidavit filed with his nomination paper. that the total value of his and his dependents movable and immovable assets amounted to 5.14 billion rupees (about 103 million dollars). This included farmland, real estate, vehicles, gold, jewellery and oil paintings.
Patadia said his party aims at energising the youth and promoting communal harmony and uplifting the poor. It plans to field 30 candidates from the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The partys 17-point election agenda includes abolition of income tax, free electricity and free houses for all and reserving 50 per cent of all jobs for women.
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