The nomination for second phase of election has come to end on November 18, with withdrawal of names will be done by Thursday. In the second phase, election will be held for 20 seats spread mostly in Ranchi, Gumla and Kolhan regions.
Based on the affidavits submitted by the candidates to Election Commission, the maximum crorepatis (billionaires) are from Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). From Mahagathbandhan there are eight crorepatis, followed by BJP having five billionaires. Interestingly, the richest candidates are from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
In terms of assets, the richest candidates in second phase is Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Ramdas Soren contesting from Ghatsila having an assets of Rs 9.25 crore. Ramdas has immovable assets worth Rs 8,91,31,000 and movable assets of Rs 25,85,962.
His wife Surajmani Soren though has no immovable assets in her name she has Rs 43,18,451. The couple has two sons Robin and Rupesh Soren, but only Robin has movable assets Rs 1,000 as declared by Soren in his affidavit. Soren in his affidavit has also declared that he has neither any liabilities nor he has borrowed any loans from banks or other financial institutions.
Followed by Soren the second richest candidates in second phase of election going to poll on December 7 is Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) (P) candidate Abhay Singh contesting election from Jamshedpur east the seat from which Chief Minister Arjun Munda and rebel BJP leader Saryu Roy are in electoral fray. In terms of assets, Singh is richer than both Chief Minister and Roy. Singh, who has varied business activities, including transport and mines has an asset of Rs 9 crore. Singh in his affidavit has submitted that he has movable assets of Rs 17,93,400, while his wife Sarika Singh has Rs 14,63,894. However, Singh in his affidavit has submitted that he has inherited assets valued at Rs 8, 81,70,063.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das’ asset has gone up by nearly Rs 12.86 lakh. In 2014, Raghubar had asset of Rs 72.72 lakh which has gone up to Rs 85.08 lakh based on current affidavit submitted by the Chief Minister. Similarly, Raghubar’s cabinet colleague and rebel BJP leader Saryu Roy who too is contesting election from Jamshedpur east has asset of Rs 4.35 crore which is nearly Rs 1.23 crore higher than the 2014 affidavit.
In second phase the richest candidates in BJP is Khunti candidate and minister in Raghubar Das cabinet Neelkanth Singh Munda. He has an asset of Rs 4.36 crore, which includes movable asset of Rs 1,65,56,244, while his wife Sabita Devi has a movable asset of Rs 1,58,21, 240.
Munda, has immovable assets (development construction cost of immovable property after purchase) which is valued at Rs 645000.
Munda in his affidavit has mentioned that he has government dues of Rs 12,52,00 but has no loans from bank or other financial institutions. On other hand, his wife Sabita Devi has a bank loan of Rs 85,82,409.
The election for the second phase will be held on December 7. In second phase BJP is contesting on 19 seats, JMM on 14 seats while Congress is contesting on six seats.