Vadodara to Varanasi: Modi's assets up Rs 14 lakh; BJP says party transferred fund

BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi's movable assets increased by Rs 14.34 lakh from his declaration for the Vadodara Lok Sabha seat filed about a fortnight ago.

The Gujarat CM disclosed wealth worth Rs 1.65 core, according to the affidavit filed on Thursday as part of his nomination process for Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency.

Movable assets of Modi stood at Rs 65,91,582 lakh, according to the affidavit filed in Varanasi, an increase of Rs 14.34 lakh from his declaration made for Vadodara parliamentary seat, where his movable were worth Rs 51,57,582 lakh.

Modi disclosed a bank balance of Rs 26.05 lakh which increased by Rs 14.31 lakh from his declaration made in Vadodara. His fixed deposits stood at Rs 32.48,989 lakh.

The BJP PM nominee's cash in hand also increased by Rs 3000. He had disclosed Rs 32,700 cash in his affidavit submitted for Varanasi while it stood at Rs 29,700 in Vadodara affidavit.

However, there was no change in Modi's immovable assets, which stood at Rs 1 crore, according to the affidavit filed in both Varanasi and Vadodara parliamentary constituencies.

BJP's senior Gujarat leader and legal cell convenor Kakubhai on Thursday said that the apparent rise in Modi's assets was because of funds being transferred by the party to the Vadodara election account of its Prime Ministerial candidate.

"The fund has been transferred in a transparent manner through RTGS (online transfer system)," he said while explaining the difference between the two affidavits.

Modi's wealth is Rs 68 lakh higher than his main opponent AAP's Arvind Kejriwal who on Wednesday declared his individual assets at Rs 96.25 lakh. However, former Delhi Chief Minister and his wife Sunita together have higher movable and immovable assets worth Rs 2.14 crore.

Modi's investments include tax-saving L&T infra bonds worth Rs 20,000 and postal saving and insurance policies worth Rs 4.34 lakh. Modi has also disclosed four gold rings worth Rs 1.35 lakh and got income tax refunds of Rs 54,403 in 2011-12 and Rs 61,065 in 2012-13.

However, financial details of Modi's wife Jashodaben remain 'not known' in the Varanasi affidavit, as was the case in the earlier filing. The case was the same for her profession or occupation.

A post graduate (MA) from Gujarat University, Modi has described his profession as 'public life, political activity".

Furthur, he has not disclosed any "pending cases". In case of Kejriwal, there are six cases that are pending against him in various courts.

(With PTI inputs)