The first phase of West Bengal election 2021 began today. In this regard, it is worthwhile to take a look at the picture of the changing levels of wealth of various leaders from parties like TMC and BJP that are contesting the election.

In the last five years, the personal wealth & assets of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has shrunk by about 45 percent. Out of the 20 MLAs who won the last assembly elections and were re-elected in the second round, only three have less property than they had before. Out of these three, Chief Minister Banerjee is again in the first place on the basis of plummeting level of property & wealth as a percentage value.

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The affidavit that CM-Banerjee had submitted when she was a candidate from Bhabanipur Centre in the 2016 assembly election showed that the total amount of assets including movable and immovable categories was 30 lakh 45 thousand rupees. For the ongoing election, where she is contesting from Nandigram Assembly constituency, the affidavit submitted by CM Banerjee, shows her total assets at Rs 16 lakh 72 thousand. As compared to five years ago, her wealth has decreased by 13 lakh 72 thousand rupees.

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The report released by the voluntary organization West Bengal Election Watch analyzing the affidavits of the candidates for the second round of elections has mentioned that the Chief Minister’s wealth & resources have decreased. Mamata Bhuiyan, a Trinamool MLA from Daspur, follows the Chief Minister in terms of percentage of wealth-reduction. Her wealth has decreased by 37 percent. The wealth of Sukumar Dey, Trinamool MLA from Nandakumar, has decreased by 36 percent.

According to the report, the wealth & assets of the remaining 17 MLAs who have become candidates in the second round of voting have increased. The wealth of the chief minister’s main rival in Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari has increased by about 68 percent. According to his affidavit for the 2016 assembly election, his total assets were at 62 lakh 60 thousand rupees. It has increased and surged to 1 crore 5 lakh 52 thousand rupees.

Some have even boomed up their wealth in a three-four digit figure of percentage in five years. CPM MLA from Panskura East, Sheikh Ibrahim Ali’s wealth has increased by 2141 percent. His total assets mentioned in the affidavit for the 2016 election were at around Rs 49,000. That has increased to 10 lakh 64 thousand rupees prior to this year’s election. Wealth of CPM’s Sonamukhi MLA has increased by 642 percent. According to the affidavit submitted for the 2016 election, his total assets were 1 lakh 24 thousand rupees, which has increased to 8 lakh 1 thousand rupees.

Candidates are required to separately state in their affidavits the amount of assets of their spouse and two dependents in addition to their own details. This report of WB Election Watch has revealed the total amount of assets of the candidates. Dr. Ujjwaini Halim, is the State coordinator of the West Bengal Election Watch, which brought out this analytical insight into the increase and contraction of assets of various MLAs in the state.

According to the report of the organization, BJP MLA Bharti Ghosh of Debra has the highest amount of wealth among the candidates for the second round of polling. The total assets of the former police officer are at Rs 19 crore 21 lakh. Kakdwip’s BJP candidate Dipankar Jana is in second place. His total assets stand at Rs 14 crore 41 lakh rupees. He is in the first place in terms of annual income (2 crore 18 lakh rupees). In terms of wealth, Aroop Chakraborty, the Trinamool candidate from Taldangra, is in third place ( Rs 8 crore 82 lakh). He is in second place in terms of income.

Actor Soham Chakraborty, Chandipur’s Trinamool candidate, is in third place in terms of income. Nirmal Dhara, the BJP candidate from Indus, is in the third position in terms of lower wealth. His total wealth is only 1700 rupees. Out of the total 171 candidates in the second phase, 26 can be technically called Crorepatis in terms of assets, with 11 of them in Trinamool and 10 in BJP.