Lok Sabha Election Phase 1: Who are the Top 5 richest candidates contesting?

ADR Report: With less than two weeks remaining before the commencement of Lok Sabha Elections 2024, electioneering is in full swing. The candidates contesting in phase 1 of the elections have already filed their nominations, disclosing their details including assets, any criminal background or pending court cases, and financial situation, among other information. The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) collected this information and released a report, comprising the candidate’s personal details.

After analyzing the affidavits submitted by the candidates, ADR concluded that about 28 percent of the candidates contesting in phase 1 of the 2024 Lok Sabha Election are crorepatis. They also made a list of the top 10 richest candidates contesting in this election. Let’s get to know a little bit more about these candidates.

Top 5 Richest Candidates:

Following is the list of the richest candidates for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 1:

1. Nakul Nath

Nakul Nath, with assets worth Rs 716 crore emerged as the richest candidate in Phase 1 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. He is the son of Kamal Nath, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. He is contesting the election from the Chhindwara constituency of Madhya Pradesh on the ticket from the Indian National Congress (INC). 

2. Ashok Kumar

Ashok Kumar, with assets worth more than Rs 662 crore is the founder of the social service organisation Aatral Foundation. He is contesting the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Erode constituency of Tamil Nadu on the ticket from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). 

3. Dhevanathan Yadav

Dhevanathan Yadav is the richest Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) candidate contesting in Phase 1 of the Lok Sabha 2024 elections. As per the affidavit submitted by him, he is worth more than 304 Crore. He is contesting elections from the Sivaganga constituency of Tamil Nadu. 

4. Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah

Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah is a current member of Parliament of BJP from Tehri Garhwal constituency of Uttarakhand. She is worth more than 206 crore. She will be again contesting from the same constituency from the same party. 

5. Majid Ali

Majid Ali is a current Zila Panchayat Sadasya from Deoband, worth more than 159 crore. He is the brother of actor-cum-producer Kamaal Rashid Khan, famously known as KRK. He is contesting this election on the ticket of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) from Deoband constituency, Uttar Pradesh. 

Top 10 Richest Candidates

The following table contains the financial details of the top 10 richest candidates contesting in Phase 1 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024:

As per the report, a total of 1,618 candidates are on the battlefield, out of which 252, 16 percent have a criminal history or pending cases against them. 161 candidates, or 10 percent of the total are facing serious criminal charges.