Cong Rebel’s Riches Eclipse Political Elite

Nagpur: Numerous prominent leaders from Vidarbha, including leader of opposition Vijay Waddettiwar, forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Nana Patole, expelled MPPC general secretary Narendra Jichkar and others submitted their nominations at various locations for the assembly elections on Monday.An analysis of the poll affidavits of eminent candidates revealed that Congress rebel and industrialist Narendra Jichkar possesses greater wealth than leader of opposition Waddetiwar, forest minister Mungantiwar, and even deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.Jichkar, who was expelled from Congress and filed nomination as an independent candidate from Nagpur West constituency, along with his family, boasts assets totalling Rs157.23 crore, including Rs72.26 crore in movable assets and Rs84.97 crore in immovable assets. Jichkar's wealth significantly surpasses that of LoP Waddettiwar, who, together with his family, possesses assets worth Rs96.54 crore, including Rs57.63 crore in movable assets and Rs38.91 crore in immovable assets. Furthermore, Jichkar's affluence exceeds that of Fadnavis, who, along with his wife, holds assets valued at Rs13.27 crore, and forest minister Mungantiwar, who, together with his family, owns assets amounting to Rs16.82 crore, consisting of Rs1.91 crore in movable assets and Rs14.91 crore in immovable assets.The affidavits also disclose that Jichkar, an engineering graduate in production technology and an MBA, has debts and loans amounting to Rs115.87 crore, while Waddettiwar and his wife have a debt of Rs44.42 crore. Similarly, Mungantiwar and his family have a debt of Rs5.20 crore.Jichkar also possesses an impressive fleet of 16 cars, heavy vehicles, and two-wheelers, including five trucks, a Mercedes, an Endeavour, two Fortuners, and others, collectively worth Rs15.35 crore. Wadettiwar too owns a tractor and three cars, including a Fortuner, with a total value of Rs96.42 lakh. In contrast, Mungantiwar and his family do not own a single car.The affidavits further reveal that Waddettiwar's income nearly doubled from Rs33.28 lakh in 2019-2020 fiscal year to Rs60.30 lakh in 2023-24. Waddettiwar's wife, Kiran, earned a staggering Rs5.43 crore in 2023-24, a manifold increase from her earnings of Rs45 lakh in the 2019-20 fiscal year.Mungantiwar's income also witnessed an exponential growth over the past five years, rising from Rs34.60 lakh in the 2019-20 fiscal year to Rs60.70 lakh in 2023-24.The affidavits also shows that Jichkar's income has steadily increased over the last five years, with a reported income of Rs75.53 lakh in 2019-20, which surged to Rs1.17 crore in 2023-24.The poll affidavits additionally disclosed that Praful Gudadhe Patil, who filed his nomination from Nagpur South-West on a Congress ticket, possesses, along with his wife, assets worth Rs23.73 crore, including Rs11.64 crore in movable assets and Rs12.09 crore in immovable assets. The couple also has liabilities amounting to Rs3.76 crore.The poll affidavit of five-time MLA Bacchu Kadu, who filed his nomination from the Prahar Janashakti Party in Achalpur, along with his wife, reported assets worth Rs3.63 crore and liabilities of Rs25.73 lakh.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.