Karunanidhi, Jaya wealthiest among TN candidates

CHENNAI: Arch rivals in Tamil Nadu politics AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa and DMK Chief M Karunanidhi are not only in the race for power in the May 8 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections but also vying with each other to be among the wealthiest politicians of the country.

Karunandihi has declared assets worth Rs 26.53 crore, including fixed deposits in banks, shares in partnership concerns and interest in film distribution companies, besides land, building, and sizeable jewellery.

 He in fact tops the list of candidates in terms of wealth. Closely following him is his bete noire in state politics is J Jayalalithaa with movable and immovable property worth Rs 25 crore. This included a grape yard at Hyderabad, shares in Jaya Publications, which brings out the party organ 'Namathu MGR'.

However, she had not declared the worth of her jewels as they are not in her possession, having been seized by police during a raid in her house way back in 1997 in connection with the wealth case and handed over to the Small Cases court for custody. As the case was still pending, the court had not handed over the jewels to her so far.

Actor Vijaykant, who has floated the Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam, contesting the Virdachalam seat in Cuddalore district, has declared assets worth Rs 12.2 crore. This included an engineering college, a marriage hall in the heart of the city besides lot of land and buildings in several parts of the state.