Major parties field crorepati candidates

Of the 34 candidates fielded by DMK, 33 candidates are crorepatis. Its archrival AIADMK has fielded 31 crorepati candidates while Congress has nominated 33 crorepatis for the polls. DMDK, which is contesting in 14 seats as part of the BJP led alliance, has fielded 12 crorepati candidates.

Number of crorepati candidates nominated by major political parties in the Lok Sabha polls has gone in this election compared to the 2009 LS polls. As per the affidavit filed by the candidates, 74 per cent of the candidates fielded by DMK, AIADMK, Congress and DMDK were crorepatis in this election when compared to 55 per cent in the 2009 polls. Interestingly, 178 out of the 845 candidates in the fray in Tamil Nadu are crorepatis, according to the report of Association for Democratic Reforms.

Poorest candidate in terms of asset in DMK is G. Selvam (Kancheepuram) whose asset is valued at Rs 73.04 lakh while the richest DMK candidate is former Union minister of state S. Jagathrakshakan (Sriperumbudur) with Rs 78 crore. In AIADMK, the richest candidate is K. N. Ramachandran who has an asset of Rs 93.67 crore while the poorest is Krishnagiri candidate K. Ashok Kumar with Rs 11.76 lakh asset.

Congress party has to its credit of nominating richest candidate in this poll in the state. Its Kanyakumar candidate H. Vasanthakumar tops richest candidate list with asset of Rs 285.77 crore. He also has highest liability of Rs 87.60 crore. Congress’s poor candidate is S. V. Ramani of South Chennai with Rs 15.98 lakh asset. DMDK’s richest candidate is C. R. Jayashankar of Cuddalore whose asset is valued at Rs 35.5 crore while his party’s Karur candidate have lowest asset in his party with Rs 70.85 lakh.

In the election dominated by crorepati candidates of various political parties, the poorest candidate in the state is V. Thangaraj, an independent contesting in Erode with assets of Rs 500. About 11 Independent candidates have declared zero asset in the state.