Ngaitlang Dhar richest candidate contesting in Meghalaya elections

According to the affidavit he filed, the NPP candidate has 144 vehicles and ₹290 crore worth assets

File photo of Ngaitlang Dhar unveiling developmental works in his Umroi Umroi constituency.

Ngaitlang Dhar was the richest candidate in the 2013 Assembly elections. He continues to be so even in 2018.

The 49-year-old Mr Dhar, who can barely read despite studying up to Class 8, is richer by ₹55 crore than five years ago. His affidavit says his fleet of vehicles too has increased by six to touch 144. But 129 of these are trucks and earth movers. The remaining are high-end SUVs and sedans of brands such as Mercedes and BMW.

The affidavit of this former Congress leader, who hopes to retain the Umroi assembly seat on an NPP ticket, says his assets are worth ₹290 crore.

His son Dasakhiatbha Lamare, a first-timer at 25, is a millionaire too. He owns 15 vehicles, a few of them luxury cars, and his movable and immovable assets are worth ₹40 crore.

Mr. Lamare is the NPP candidate for the Mawhati seat. One of his rivals is Julius Kitbok Dorphang, an independent in jail on charges of raping a minor several times in December 2016.

Mr. Dhar’s younger brother Sniawbhalang, 36, is poorer in contrast. He declared ₹28 lakh as assets.

Sniawbhalang Dhar, who won the Nartiang seat on a Congress ticket last time, is an NPP candidate this time.