Candidates prove polls a rich person's domain

Hyderabad: In another reminder that contesting elections is fast becoming the exclusive domain of the rich, most of the first-timers in the GHMC elections, especially the women candidates, are rich.With 50 per cent of the seats being reserved for women, around 500 ladies are trying their luck in the polls, either independently or representing a party. Though most of these women are students or housewives, their spouse have crores in assets.

Rajya Sabha member K. Kesava Rao’s daughter  G. Vijaya Lakshmi, Ramgopalpet TRS candidate Sarita and Malkajgiri MLA’s daughter-in-law Vijaya Shanti and TD leader's wife Sujatha Reddy, all have one thing in common — money. According to a report by Association of Democratic Forum, a city-based election watch group scrutinising  affidavits, TRS candidate P. Vijaya Reddy, daughter of former minister P. Janardhan Reddy, is the richest candidate.

As per her election affidavit, Ms Vijaya Reddy has assets worth '17 crore, including houses, jewellery and other properties. Another rich candidate from the TRS is Swapna Reddy, contesting for Habsiguda division. Her declared assets are worth '1.7 crore.

While among the prospective mayoral candidates, Vikram Goud of the Congress is the richest with declared assets of '94 lakh. The two TRS’ mayoral hopefuls Vijaya Lakshmi of Banjara Hills ward has declared '80 lakh in assets and candidate for Cherlapalli  division B. Ram Mohan’s affidavit says he has '74 lakh worth of assets.

According to the affidavit of former mayor Mohd Majid Hussain, he is among the poorest of the candidates, with assets worth a mere '8.3 lakh, while his predecessor Banda Karthika Reddy has assets worth '19.75 lakh. TD contestant for ward No. 3 Mallesh Raj has declared assets worth '1 crore, the same as TD candidate for Ward No. 5, Laxmi Narayana.