BJP candidates declare assets

BJP chief ministerial candidate Vijay Kumar Malhotra and his wife’s assets are worth over Rs 5 crore, but both of them own an old Baleno car worth Rs 2.75 lakh. This was revealed in an affidavit filed by Malhotra while submitting his nomination papers on Saturday.

The value of movable and immovable assets declared by Malhotra and his wife had reportedly witnessed a five-time jump from 2004 when they declared property worth Rs 1.01 crore.

The affidavit said they have assets worth Rs 5,003,4350, including two houses in the city valued at Rs 2.5 crore. In 2004, when Malhotra contested from South Delhi Lok Sabha seat, he had declared assets worth Rs 1.01 crore.

Another important BJP candidate, Jagdish Mukhi, who filed his nomination from DC office, Rampura, declared his spouse owes most of the family assets.

His personal bonds, shares and debentures are worth Rs 3,195, while his wife owns the same worth roughly about Rs 11 lakh.

With most prominent city politicians set to file their nominations in the next few days, election officials were also keeping a close watch on the declarations.

Officials said information submitted by candidates would undergo close scrutiny for any inaccurate information furnished at the time of filing nominations.

One of the two affidavits that a candidate has to submit relates to criminal record, if any, of him or her.

“If a candidate has been convicted more than twice, he or she is debarred from contesting elections,” said an official at the Deputy Commissioner's office situated at Shahjahan Road, who did not want to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The office also plans to make the details of the affidavit public through newspapers. “We will make the counter affidavit public as well to maintain a level of transparency,” said the official.

According to sources in the election office, all evidences gathered against the candidate(s) will be routed to the election commission through the chief electoral officer, who would initiate an inquiry.