Vidhan Sabha 2019: Millionaire ‘people’s servants’ in the fray

PUNE: Many of the candidates in the fray, who claim to have entered politics with the sole purpose of serving the poor masses, are themselves millionaires. Their affidavits have details of their immense wealth. In all, 158 candidates have filed nominations in the eight assembly constituencies of the city.

Among the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) millionaire candidates, Jagdish Mulik is the richest with wealth worth Rs 142 crore while Siddharth Shirole is the ‘poorest’ with movable and immovable property amounting to Rs 1.20 crore.

The eight constituencies of the city are Wadgaon Sheri, Kasba Peth, Shivajinagar, Parvati, Hadapsar, Khadakwasla, Kothrud and Pune Cantonment. October 5 (Friday) was the last date for filing nominations. The nominations have been attached with the affidavits, which mention property details, educational qualifications and criminal cases, if any, etc. 

Sitting MLA of Wadgaon Sheri Jadish Mulik is the richest candidate in the city. He has property worth Rs 147.62 crore. However, he has not mentioned that he does not have a single vehicle in his affidavit. He owns land with an estimated value of Rs 127 crore.

He has studied till First Year of Bachelor of Arts (FYBA). 

Though Siddharth Shirole, who has filed his nominations from Shivajinagar constituency, has the least wealth (Rs 1.20 crore) among the candidates from his party, he is an engineering graduate. He has completed Bachelor of Engineer ( Mechanical). He is contesting the assembly polls for the first time. 

From the Congress, sitting corporator Arvind Shinde has wealth of Rs 7.18 crore. He is a commerce graduate. He is in the hotel business and has farmland. 

City unit Congress president Ramesh Bagwe, who is contesting from Pune Cantonment, has listed wealth of Rs 7.29 crore. 

He has passed SSC and lists building and construction as his profession. 

Elsewhere, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate from Hadapsar constituency Chetan Tupe is also among the millionaire candidates. He has mentioned wealth of over Rs 20 crore. Tupe is a farmer but has not mentioned any particular profession. He has completed FYJC. 

Another candidate from NCP Ashwini Kadam from Parvati constituency has mentioned a total wealth of Rs 1.83 crore. She is a teacher and has completed MA in Marathi.