India
oi-Deepika S
Karnataka is all set to witness a triangular contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Opposition Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular).
According to data analysed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the average of assets per candidate contesting in 2023 is Rs 12.26 crore. 42 per cent or 1087 of the sitting MLAs of Karnataka are crorepatis.
In the 2018 Karnataka Assembly Elections, out of 2560 candidates, 883 (35 per cent) were crorepatis.
With voting just a week away, here’s a look at the richest candidates contesting the Karnataka elections.
Sale of electoral bonds ahead of Karnataka polls up nine times compared to 2018
Yousuf Sharif
According to the ADR survey, Yousuf Sharif alias KGF Babu is the richest candidate in the fray. Contesting as an independent from Chickpet constituency in Bengaluru city, he has assets worth Rs 1,634 crore approximately.
MTB Nagaraj
Next to Sharif is sitting BJP minister N Nagaraju alias MTB Nagaraj who is fighting from Hoskote in Bengaluru rural district. Nagaraju has declared assets of Rs 1,610 crore approximately.
DK Shivakumar
The seven-time MLA and Karnataka Congress chief, D.K. Shivakumar has declared assets worth Rs 1,358 crore, making him the third richest candidate in the fray. The Congress leader’s assets saw 68 per cent growth in the last five years. D.K Shivakumar, referred to as ‘Kanakapura Bande’ by his admirers will be contesting against BJP leader R Ashoka this time.
Priya Krishna
Priya Krishna, who is contesting on the Congress ticket from Govindarajanagar constituency in Bengaluru South has the highest liabilities of Rs 881 crore, though he is the fourth wealthiest candidate with assets of Rs 1,156 crore. He also has disputed liabilities of Rs 65 crore.
K Narayan Raju
The JD(S) candidate for Bommanahalli constituency K Narayan Raju comes third with Rs 125 crore liabilities and 15 crore disputed liabilities. He has assets worth Rs 417 crore, according to ADR.
