Lok Sabha Polls: Congress veteran Kamal Nath’s son, Nakul Nath reports Rs 700 crore in assets

Nakul Nath, the sole Congress representative from Madhya Pradesh, has been reappointed as the candidate for Chhindwara by his party. His election affidavit reveals assets amounting to approximately ₹ 700 crore.

Nath is one of the 113 candidates who submitted their nominations for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the central state, which concluded on April 19.

According to his affidavit, Nath’s net worth has increased by ₹ 40 crore over the last five years.

In his most recent disclosure to the Election Commission, Nath reported movable assets, including cash, shares, and bonds, valued at ₹ 649.51 crore, and immovable assets worth ₹ 48.07 crore.

The incumbent MP from Chhindwara, who is the son of former Chief Minister and prominent Congress leader Kamal Nath, was the wealthiest among the 475 Lok Sabha members in 2019, as per the non-profit Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The ADR reports that the politician-businessman declared assets of ₹ 660 crore in 2019 when he ran for office from Chhindwara, his father’s stronghold, and was the only victorious Congress candidate in the state. In that year, the BJP secured 28 out of the 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh.

Kamal Nath, who won the Chhindwara seat, reported assets of ₹ 134 crore in his election affidavit prior to the assembly elections last year, as per the ADR.

Interestingly, Nakul Nath is known to frequently use an aircraft but does not own a car, as per his affidavit. In an attempt to challenge the Nath stronghold, the BJP has highlighted Kamal Nath’s use of helicopters to create a narrative of the wealthy versus the common man, fielding their candidate Vivek Sahu against Nakul Nath.

The Congress has consistently won the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat since 1952, with only one loss to the BJP. Kamal Nath has secured this seat a record nine times.

“A prominent Congress leader… maintains two helicopters at his residence. When he returns, he lands the helicopter directly at his home. He was a former Chief Minister,” stated Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at a recent election rally in Sidhi.

Yadav mentioned that his administration has decided to provide a helicopter, but it will be accessible to the poor. “To quickly transport poor individuals to hospitals for emergency treatment,” Yadav stated, highlighting the state’s newly introduced air ambulance service for citizens during medical emergencies.

BJP candidate Sahu has also criticized the former Chief Minister for his use of helicopters during public engagements. Locals report that Mr. Nath has two helipads at his residence in the Shikrapur area of Chhindwara.

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