The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Deep divide in financial worth of candidates

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Sunday, Apr 27, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Deep divide in financial worth of candidates

Staff Reporter

Some have crores, others have no assets

There is a wide gap between property holdings of candidates
Several candidates own only two-wheelers

BANGALORE: Stark contrast in the financial clout of rivals has emerged in several constituencies in Bangalore Rural district with the assets of several party candidates running into several crores, while a few independent candidates have absolutely nothing to show.

The district, with four Assembly segments — Nelamangala, Doddaballapur, Hoskote and Devanahalli — has been witnessing huge growth in development, and the prices of property have skyrocketed, a reason for the huge assets shown by the candidates. The district will witness three of the influential former Ministers testing waters along with the son of a former Union Minister.

Big difference

A glance at the affidavits filed by the candidates contesting from the four Assembly constituencies show the deep divide in the property holdings among the candidates. While many candidates have declared the number of four-wheelers that they own, several candidates own only two-wheelers.

In Nelamangala constituency, Congress candidate Anjanamurthy has declared his and his family’s assets at over Rs. 9 crore. It includes immovable property worth over Rs. 6.5 crore, and movable assets like jewellery, cash, investments and deposits. Another candidate, M.V. Nagaraju, has declared his and his family’s assets to be worth over Rs. 4.5 crore.

The contrast

In contrast, 45-year-old Pramila, a resident of Rayanagara town in Nelamangala has filed an affidavit that says she or any of her family members have neither movable nor immovable property. Another candidate, Kannada Kumar, has declared he has only Rs. 6,500 in cash and no immovable property.

Congress candidate in Doddaballapur, J. Narayanaswamy, the son of former Union Minister R.L. Jalappa, has declared property worth over Rs. 3 crore. His family is in possession of 5.5 kg of gold, 17 kg of silver, four cars, cash of Rs. 26 lakh, and immovable property worth Rs. 2.8 crore.

Janata Dal (Secular) candidate and former Minister C. Chennigappa, who courted controversy in the mining scandal that rocked State politics, owns immovable property, worth over Rs. 3.1 crore, besides owning two four-wheelers and one kg of gold and 20 kg of silver. Jostling for space amid the crorepatis is Sadananda, who has declared that he has nothing.

Congress candidate and businessman N. Nagaraja has assets worth nearly Rs. 36 crore that includes investments in fixed deposits and other businesses. His family possesses 2.5 kg gold and 25 kg silver.

Former Minister Bache Gowda, said that he has Rs. 2 lakh in cash and owns a poultry farm worth Rs. 1.2 crore. His other assets are worth over Rs. 80 lakh.

However, his wife owns a four-wheeler and has immovable property worth over Rs. 2.5 crore.

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Karnataka