Nagaland Polls 2023: With assets worth over Rs 46 cr, Nagaland CM Rio richest among 53 re-contesting candidates

NDPP’s 24 MLAs’ assets grew 27.85%, 12 BJP MLA’s assets grew over 43% between 2018 and 2023

With assets of over Rs 46.95 crore, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is the richest candidate contesting the 2023 Nagaland Assembly elections. His assets grew 29 per cent from Rs 36. 41 crore to Rs 46.95 crore between 2018 and 2023.

In sharp contrast, assets of Pohwang Konyak of NCP dipped 90% from Rs 76 lakhs in 2018 to Rs 7 lakh in 2023. In 2018, Konyak had contested as NDPP candidate from Phomching. This time he is contesting as NCP candidate.

These numbers are as per the joint report of Nagaland Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The organisations have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 53 re-contesting MLAs of Nagaland.

As per the report, out of the 53 re-contesting Nagaland MLAs, assets of 47 MLAs (89%) have increased ranging from 0.1% to a mind boggling 6870% and assets of 6 MLAs (11%) have decreased ranging from -1% to -90%.

NDPP’s BS Nganlang Phom’s assets grew by a mind boggling 6870% from just Rs 21.91 lakhs in 2018 to Rs 15.27 crores in 2023. Phom who contested from Tamlu as NPF candidate in 2018, is contesting this time as NDPP candidate. Phom has cited salary as his sole source of income.
CL John of NDPP recorded a whopping 1211% increase in assets between 2018 and 2023 from Rs 40.81 lakhs in 2018 to over Rs 5 crore (5,35,09368) in 2023. His source of income has been cited as MLA salary. His wife is a pensioner. John is contesting from Tehok. In 2018 he had contested from Tehok as NPF candidate.

Dr Chotisuh Sazo of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)’s assets grew by 657% from Rs 97 lakhs to over Rs 7 crore between 2018 and 2023. In 2018, Sazo contested as NPF candidate from Chazouba. He is contesting from the same seat.

H Tovihoto Ayemi of BJP who is contesting from Dimapur – I registered a 420% increase in assets between 2018 and 2023. A businessman by profession the politician’s income grew from Rs one crore to over Rs 9 crore during the period under review.

Kezhienyi Khalo of NPF recorded a 326% increase in growth of assets from Rs 55 lakhs in 2018 to Rs 2.37 crore in 2023. He is contesting from Chizami.

N Jacob Zhimomi of BJP’s assets grew 211% in the past five years from Rs 3 crore to Rs 10 crore.
Nagaland BJP president Temjen Imna Along’s assets grew by a meagre 9% from Rs 9 crore to Rs 10 crore.
Assets of former Nagaland CM TR Zeliang of NPF grew by 102% from Rs 3 crore to Rs 7 crore. He is contesting from his home turf Peren.

Assets of Nagaland deputy CM Y Patton grew by 26% from Rs 2.27 crore in 2018 to Rs 2.85 crore in 2023. He is contesting from Tyui. He is a BJP candidate.

Twenty-four NDPP candidates who are fighting the Nagaland elections again in 2023 have registered the maximum increase in their assets of 8.74 per cent in 2023 as compared to 6.83 percent in 2018.

Three re-contesting NPF candidates’ asset saw a growth of 6.92 per cent up from 2018’s 6.16 per cent. Assets of five re-contesting candidates of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) grew 6.39 per cent in 2023 from 4.47 per cent in 2018.

The 12 re-contesting BJP candidates’ asset grew 5.54 per cent this year from 3.86 per cent in 2018, the joint report of Nagaland Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said.

The top 5 re-contesting MLAs with highest asset increase (Rupees- wise) are:
• B.S. Nganlang Phom of NDPP from Tamlu (ST) constituency has declared maximum increase in assets with an increase of Rs 15.05 Crores i.e from Rs 21.91 Lakhs in 2018 to Rs. 15.27 Crores in 2023.
• Assets of Neiphiu Rio of NDPP from Northern Angami-II (ST) constituency has increased by Rs 10.53 Crores, from Rs 36.41 Crores in 2018 to Rs 46.95 Crores in 2023.
• Assets of H. Tovihoto Ayemi of BJP from Dimapur-I constituency have risen by Rs 7.49 Crores, from Rs 1.78 Crore in 2018 to Rs 9.27 Crores in 2023.
• Assets of N Jacob Zhimomi of BJP from Ghaspani-I grew by Rs 6.86 crore from Rs 3.24 crore in 2018 to Rs 10.11 crore in 2023
• Assets of Dr Chotisuh Sazo of NPF increased by over Rs 6.43 crore from Rs 97.96 lakh in 2018 to Rs 7.41 crore in 2023.

NDPP’s 24 MLAs’ assets grew 27.85% and 12 BJP MLA’s assets grew over 43% between 2018 and 2023. The 5 MLAs of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) recorded a 43.07% hike in average growth of assets from a little over Rs 4 crore in 2018 to over Rs 6 crore in 2023. The three NPF MLAs recorded just a 12.27% average growth in their assets from Rs 6.16 crore to Rs 6.92 crore.

Also Read: Nagaland votes on 27 Feb: 183 candidates including 4 women candidates in the fray

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