Panaji (GOA) Panaji Independent MLA Kenneth Silveria is the richest candidate amongst the seven who are in fray for the Panaji and Valpoi assembly constituency by-election. Health Minister and BJP Valpoi candidate Vishwajit Rane ranks second while Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has the third highest assets.
The data released by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) ahead of the polling reveals that Silveira has declared assets to the tune of more than Rs 26.59 crore.
Rane, who is contesting his fourth election, has assets worth over Rs 21.54 crore followed by Parrikar – contesting from his traditional bastion Panaji on BJP ticket, has declared his assets to over Rs 6 crore.
As per the ADR, five out of seven candidates are crorepatis, having good educational qualification.
The two Congress candidates – Roy Naik, who is fielded against Rane in Valpoi and Girish Chodankar, contesting from Panaji has declared their assets over Rs 1.32 crore and around Rs 1.18 crore respectively.
Goa Suraksha Manch’s Anand Shirodkar and Independent Rohidas Gaonkar fall in the ‘lakhpatis’ category.
The value of the assets is evaluated based on the movable and immovable assets of the candidates and their family members that include value of property, vehicles, jewellery and cash declared by the candidates in their sworn affidavit before the returning officer.
Similarly, six candidates have declared liabilities of whom Rane leads with over Rs 11 crore, Silveira with over Rs 1 crore and Parrikar at Rs 39 lakh, Chodankar, more than Rs 11 lakh, while Naik and Gaonkar’s liabilities are recorded above Rs 6 lakh and Rs 4 lakh respectively.
The ADR analyzed the nomination papers of the candidates obtained from Election Commission of India’s website.
Rane has declared a criminal case against himself which was registered under section 506 (ii) of IPC at Old Goa police station in 2007.
As far as educational qualification is concerned, Parrikar is a Bachelor of Technology (Mettalurgy) from IIT Bombay and Rane is a PG Diploma in Management.
Team TNV