The assets of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee have nearly doubled in the past five years after she assumed office of Chief Minister of West Bengal.
Ms. Banerjee, who filed her nomination papers on Friday to contest from Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in the city, declared in her affidavit that her movable assets amount to Rs 30,45,012. Her assets in September 2011, when she contested a by-election from the same seat, was Rs. 15,84,189.
The 61-year old leader has only Rs. 18,436 cash in hand and does not own a vehicle, the fresh affidavit says. She owns jewellery weighing 9.7 grams whose market value is around Rs 26,380. Interestingly, among other assets the Chief Minister has mentioned is a multi-gym machine valued at Rs 2,15,088. Ms. Banerjee, an avid ‘walker’, at a recent television interview had claimed that she walks as much as 18 km a day.
In the affidavit, she had declared she holds Bachelor of Law (LLB), Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Master of Arts (MA) degrees.
Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly and Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra and wife Usha have total assets of Rs. 25,80,459.
Dr Mishra is contesting from Narayangarh Assembly seat in the Paschim Medinipur and his assets have grown by 40.7 per cent in the past five years.
In spite of increase in the assets, the TMC chairperson is one among the poorest candidates of the party.
Her candidate Bhaichung Bhutia has declared assets worth Rs. 17 crore and State Finance Minister Amit Mitra Rs. 7.5 crore.
