At a time when candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections are declaring moveable and immoveable assets worth crores of rupees, here is a candidate whose only asset is Rs. 12,500 in cash.
Sharanabasappa Mallikajappa Sharma, popularly known as S.M. Sharma, is the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) (SUCI-C) candidate in the Gulbarga Lok Sabha (reserved) constituency.
In the affidavit, filed along with his nomination papers, on his assets and liabilities, Mr. Sharma has said that he does not own anything but Rs. 12,500 in cash. He does not even have a savings bank account or a house of his own. He also does not own any gold jewellery, silver article, vehicle or land. Mr. Sharma, who does not face any criminal charge, has declared that he is not an income-tax assessee and he does not have a Permanent Account Number (PAN).
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An arts graduate from Ambedkar Degree College here, Mr. Sharma is popular among school and college students, and has participated in agitations pertaining to students’ issues. He told
Mr. Sharma, who hails from an agricultural family owning 4 acres of land at Heroor (K) village in Chittapur taluk of Gulbarga district, has been associated with SUCI(C) activities right from his student days.
On his prospects in the elections, Mr. Sharma said he knew his limitations. The SUCI(C) considers fighting elections as a furtherance of its agitation to create political awareness among people and to expose how elections were manipulated by bigger political parties in their favour using all means.
He said he respected Railway Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge, who is the Congress candidate in the Gulbarga constituency. Compared with other MPs, Mr. Kharge had done good work as a first-time MP from Gulbarga.
He, however, did not agree with the plea for unanimous election of Mr. Kharge, and said this would rob the people of an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice.