Of the 174 candidates trying their luck in the Mizoram Assembly elections, 112 candidates are crorepatis and among them, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state unit president Andrew Lalremkima Pachuau is the richest with declared assets of around Rs 69 crore. According to the affidavits of the candidates available with PTI, 64.4 percent candidates have declared assets worth Rs 1 crore or more.
Richest Andrew with declared assets
Andrew is the richest with declared assets of Rs 68.93 crore. He is contesting from Aizawl North-III constituency. Congress’s R Vanlalatluanga (Serchhip seat) is in second place in terms of highest declared assets. He has declared assets worth Rs 55.6 crore, while H Ginjalala (Champai North) of Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) is at the third position with declared assets of Rs 36.9 crore. According to the affidavits, his source of income is business.
BJP candidate JB’s assets worth Rs 90.32 crore!
Ramhlun-Edena, the independent candidate from Serchhip seat, has the least assets. He has movable assets worth Rs 1,500. In his affidavit uploaded on the Election Commission website, BJP candidate from Laungtalai West JB Rualchinga has erroneously declared his assets worth Rs 90.32 crore. The party has requested the election department to improve it.
Who was the richest candidate of 2018?
Earlier, Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate Lalrinnanga Selo (Hachek) was the richest candidate in the 2018 assembly elections with declared assets of Rs 100 crore. After this, MNF’s Robert Romavia Royte (Aizawl East-II) was at second position with assets worth Rs 44 crore. This time the assets of Cello have reduced to Rs 26.24 crore and that of Royte to Rs 32.24 crore.
16 women candidates contested the election
Among the 16 women candidates who contested the election, Congress candidate Maryam L. Hrangchal (Lunglei South) is the richest with assets worth Rs 18.63 crore. MNF president and Chief Minister Zoramthanga is the richest among the presidents of the five competing political parties with assets worth Rs 5 crore.
Criminal cases are pending against three candidates from ZPM and one each from MNF and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while criminal cases were pending against nine candidates in the 2018 elections, including Zoramthanga and former Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla.
Deputy Chief Minister Tawanluia, contesting from Tuichang seat for the second time, is the oldest candidate. He is 80 years old, while woman candidate Lalruatfeli Hlawando and BJP candidate F Wanmingthanga are the youngest candidates. His age is 31 years.