Andhra Pradesh's 134 re-contesting candidates assets increased to 57% in five years

VISAKHAPATNAM: The assets of the candidates re-contesting in the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh have significantly increased. A total of 134 candidates, comprising 107 YSRCP candidates, 22 TDP candidates, and others, who are contesting again on different party tickets, have seen a 57% growth in their wealth compared to the previous elections.

Interestingly, three TDP candidates, including former CM Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, hold top positions, while the present chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Gannavaram YSRCP candidate Vallabhaneni Vamsi are among the top five from the YSRCP. Vamsi won the Gannavaram seat on a TDP ticket in 2019 and is now contesting on a YSRCP ticket. A large number of YSRCP candidates are included in the list of average assets growth.

When comparing the affidavits submitted by these candidates to an organization, it is evident that YSRCP holds the top position with 54.53%. This is because the assets of 107 YSRCP candidates have increased on average by over Rs 14 crore in the last five yeaRs Despite the lower number, the average growth of assets for 22 TDP candidates is Rs 41 crore, which represents a growth rate of 66.09%. In contrast, the average increase in assets for four Congress candidates is Rs 1 crore, showing a growth rate of 54.69% compared to the previous elections. while the assets of Janasena's single candidate rose by 4.78% (Rs 3 crore).

During the growth of assets, TDP president and former chief minister Nara Chandra Babu Naidu from Kuppam secured the top position with Rs931.83 crore, marking a 39% increase (263.26 crore) from the previously declared Rs 668.57 crore in the 2019 affidavit. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy's assets increased to Rs 757.65 crore (an increase of 247.26 crore), showing a 48% growth from Rs 510.38 crore in 2019, placing him in the third position after TDP's Yeluri Samba Siva Rao.

Samba Siva Rao from the Parchuru segment saw a significant growth in assets, with an increase of 606% (Rs 253.8 crore) from Rs 41.90 crore to Rs 295 crore in 2024 as stated in his affidavit. Nandamuri Balakrishna, cine actor turned politician from Hindupur, ranked fourth with a growth of 76% (Rs 208.87 crore) from Rs 274.08 crore to Rs 482.96 crore over the five yeaRs Vallabhaneni Vamsi, representing the Gannavaram constituency, holds the fifth position with a growth of 114.68 crore (137%) from 83.74 crore to 198.42 crore in 2024.

An organization called Andhra Pradesh Election Watch analyzed the self-sworn affidavits of 134 re-contesting MLAs in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election 2024. Out of the 134 MLAs, the assets of 123 MLAs (92%) have increased, ranging from 1% to 973%. Meanwhile, the assets of 11 MLAs (8%) have decreased, ranging from -2% to -50%.

The average assets of 134 re-contesting MLAs who were candidates for different parties in the previous elections were Rs 31.39 crore, whereas in 2024, the average assets of these 134 re-contesting MLAs is Rs 49.40 crore. The average increase in assets over the last five years (2019-2024) for these MLAs is Rs 18 crore.

The analysis of the affidavits from 2019 and 2024 shows that 107 YSRCP candidates had an average increase in assets of 54.53% (Rs 14 crore) leading the list, whereas assets of 22 TDP candidates increased by 66.09% (Rs 41 crore). Additionally, the average assets of four Congress candidates increased by Rs 1 crore, reaching 54.69% from Rs 2.61 crore to Rs 4.04 crore, while the assets of Janasena's single candidate rose by 4.78% (Rs 3 crore) from Rs 79.16 crore to Rs 82.94 crore.