The motley crew of Polls '04

AHMEDABAD: Just as it takes all kinds of people to make the world, it takes all types of politicians to make electoral campaigns. If there is a ‘maharani’ whose assets, as declared in the affidavit, don’t reflect the glory of an erstwhile ruler, a commoner has debts running into crores.
One aspirant has included monetary details to the last paisa in his affidavit, while another fills every column in his form with ‘lagu nathi padtu’ (not applicable).
Bahujan Samaj Party candidate from Rajkot, Karanbhai Maldhari, has taken care to mention his 25 cows, 10 goats, one horse and two pairs of buffaloes worth Rs 5.79 lakh in his affidavit. Incidentally, the crorepati Maldhari is also deep in debt to the tune of about Rs 76 lakh. Bharatiya Navshakti Party candidate from Valsad, Naresh Delkar, has cattle worth Rs 90,000 but holds only a single share of DNH Sarkari Khan Udyog Mandli worth Rs 5.
Vallabh Kathiria, BJP MP in the 13th Lok Sabha and contesting from Rajkot, is a doctor but, if one goes by his affidavit, he has to make do with a cycle and scooter, the only vehicles he claims he owns. Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad — ‘maharani’ of the erstwhile Baroda state, contesting on a BJP ticket from Kheda — and her family have just Rs 57 lakh worth of property and cash.
Independent candidate from Dhandhuka, Jayaben Ranva, only has a gold chain worth Rs 4,000. Independent candidate from Porbander, Tukadiya Gordhan Rajabhai, only has Rs 1,500 in cash. BSP candidate LN Medipally from Gandhinagar has a bank deposit of Rs 4,000. Congress candidate from Bhavnagar, Gigabhai Gohil, has just Rs 9,000 while rival Independent, Manajibhai Kherala, has a deposit of Rs 10,000. They or their dependants have nothing else.
Independent candidate from Kapadvanj, Manubhai Vyas, has to pay back a debt of Rs 385. Mohammed Patel Fansiwala, Congress candidate from Bharuch with net worth over a crore, has a debt of just Rs 232.
Quite a few of the candidates have dialled the ‘wrong’ number at the telephone department. If Delkar has dues to the tune of Rs 68.27 lakh, which includes a large part that he owes the telecom department, Chhota Udepur Congress candidate Naranbhai Rathwa has a civil suit regarding debts to the telephone department worth Rs 2.71 lakh.
For some, the debt has crossed the Rs 1-crore mark. Congress candidate from Vadodara, Satyajitsinh Gaekwad, has a liability of Rs 1.57 crore and has to pay MTNL Rs 3.37 lakh. BSP candidate from Surat, Bhikhabhai Patel, is yet to pay a bank loan worth Rs 1.05 crore.
Among the ‘more fortunate’ candidates, BJP candidate from Godhra, Bhupendrasinh Solanki, has Rs 5.40 lakh in hand. In Junagadh, Congress contestant Jasubhai Barad can dole out Rs 4.35 lakh, at any time.
Vitthal Pandya, father of former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya, who is contesting as an Independent from Gandhinagar, does not mention any property. He has Rs 25,000 in cash, Rs 2.58 lakh as bank deposits and postal savings worth Rs 2.25 lakh.