JOIN USIn Andhra Pradesh leaders are getting richer by the day. Already home to India’s richest MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the state’s tryst with wealthy politicians is continuing. Five out of the total six Rajya Sabha nominees from the state are crorepatis.
As per their strength in the Assembly, the ruling Congress and the main Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have nominated four and two candidates respectively to fill six vacancies from the state. All the candidates have filed affidavits declaring their assets, along with their nominations.
Filthy rich MPs
The TDP fund raiser and backroom strategist C M Ramesh, picked for the Upper House despite opposition from within the party, will become the second richest MP in the country with declared assets of over Rs 175 crore. Last year, Jagan had declared assets worth Rs 365.68 crore, making him the richest MP. An industrialist having interests in the infrastructure sector, Ramesh also declared that he owns 5.5 kgs of gold.
A confidant of party chief N Chandrababu Naidu, Ramesh owns immovable properties worth Rs 149 crore while his movable assets are worth Rs 25 crore. He and his wife own non-agricultural land amounting to Rs 94 crore and agricultural land worth Rs 9.32 crore. The couple owns a BMW, a Toyoto Corolla and Innova.
He is followed by actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, whose wealth amounts to Rs 97.5 crore, besides 14 kg of gold and 179 carat jewels.
The actor has been nominated to the Upper House by the ruling party as a return gift for merging his Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress.
Chiranjeevi’s assets have increased by more than Rs 10 crore since 2009 when he had declared his assets at Rs 88 crore. The Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdary, another RS nominee, has declared assets worth Rs 58 crore.
Another TDP candidate and former state home minister Toolla Devender Goud declared assets of Rs 38.20 crore and two kg gold. Congress veteran from Telangana P Goverdhan Reddy has immovable property worth Rs 2.10 crore and Rs 27.8 lakhs worth movable property.
However, the ruling party’s surprise choice R Ananda Bhaskar comes across as an odd man out in the club of crorepatis. He has modest assets worth Rs 7.70 lakh. A journalist-turned-politician, Bhaskar started as a low-profile leader engaged in the training programmes at “Gandhi Bhavan”, the Congress headquarters.