Karnataka Election 2023: List Of Richest Election Candidates, And Their Declared Net Worth

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The counting of votes for the Karnataka Assembly election 2023 began on 13 May, Saturday. The polling for the 224-member Assembly was held on Wednesday and Karnataka recorded a voter turnout of 72.67 per cent, which is slightly above the previous polls in 2018.

According to the current trend, Congress is leading in over 120 seats which is well past the majority figure of 113. It looks like they are all set to return to power in Karnataka. However, BJP is witnessing a significant decline in its seat share with leads in just 70+ seats. JD(S) is now ahead in 25 seats.

This battleground is not limited to strong candidates, it appears like it is also a battle of the rich. This time the state's list of candidates is dominated not only by crorepatis but by billionaires. Some candidates have declared assets worth hundreds of crores in their affidavits to the Election Commission of India.

According to an analysis by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), nearly half the candidates, 42 per cent out of 2,586 or 1,087 candidates, are crorepatis. That's why this election is being called the battle of the rich. In this political war, Congress and BJP are engaged in a neck-to-neck fight in fielding candidates from their respective parties. 97% of Congress candidates proudly claim to be millionaires, while 96% of BJP candidates are millionaires. Around 82% of GDS party candidates are part of the Millionaire Club.

Ahead of Karnataka Election Results 2023, we have curated the richest candidates.

1. Yusuf Sharif
Yusuf Sharif, popularly known as KGF Babu, a prominent Congress leader, is the richest candidate on this list. Contesting as an independent candidate from the Chickpet assembly constituency in Bengaluru, he has declared assets worth over Rs 1,633 crore.

2. N Nagaraju
Karnataka's Minister of Small Scale Industries and Municipal Administration in the current BJP government N Nagaraju is contesting from the Hoskote constituency in Bengaluru Rural district. Nagaraju has been elected thrice from this seat. His declared assets exceed Rs 1,609 crore.

3. DK Shivakumar
Congress state party president and seven-time MLA DK Shivakumar has disclosed assets worth over Rs 1,413 crore. Shivakumar is contesting from Kanakapura constituency in this election.

4. Priya Krishna
Priya Krishna of INC, who was elected as Karnataka MLA in 2009 from Govindaraj Nagar, Bengaluru. He is the elder son of former Karnataka minister M. Krishnappa. Contesting from the Govindrajnagar constituency this time, he has declared assets worth Rs 1,156 crore.

5. Suresh B.S
The fifth name in the list of richest candidates is that of Congress leader Suresh BS. He is contesting this time from the Hebbal constituency, from where he was also elected in 2018. He is a close aide of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He has declared assets worth Rs 648 crore in the election affidavit.