LS Polls: Srinagar Has The Wealthiest Candidate In Fray

SRINAGAR: In the central Kashmir Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency where 12 candidates are in the fray, the real contest seemingly is a triangular one – between the NC, PDP and the Peoples Conference (PC). The seat goes to polls in the second phase on April 18. NC is making extra-efforts to retain the seat for Dr Farooq Abdullah, its president.

The campaigning is low key but is taking place, mostly in peripheries. PC and the PDP have fielded Shia Muslim candidates – Irfan Raza Ansari by the PC and Agha Syed Mustafa by the PDP. On the basis of the declarations that the candidates have made, Irfan Raza Ansari is emerging the richest candidate. He actually owns assets, which are more than the cumulative assets that all candidates from Srinagar and Baramulla, so far. In fact, his liabilities are slightly less than the assets of Dr Farooq Abdullah, a four-time Chief Minister, owns. Son of Shia Muslim leader late Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari and younger brother of Imran Raza Ansari, Irfan is a business tycoon.  The family was earlier with Congress and then switched over to NC. After Molvi Iftikhar’s demise as a PDP leader, Imran succeeded him. He was the cabinet minister in Mufti-led BJPDP coalition. Later after the government fell in wake of BJP withdrawing the support, Imran joined PC. Now Imran, Irfan and their uncle Abid Raza Ansari, after deserting the PDP, have all joined the Peoples Conference. It is Irfan’s debut in politics and he is contesting for the central Kashmir Lok Sabha seat. He is pitted mainly against Dr Farooq Abdullah, his father’s bosom friend, who took him in his cabinet despite being a Congressman. Irfan, according to the self-attested declaration, has only Rs 1.5 lakh in his pocket and another Rs one lakh in cash with his doctor wife. In their multiple personal bank accounts, they have Rs 201573 and Rs 652550, respectively. But that is just the fraction of what the couple owns. The asset declaration, he made, makes him perhaps the richest contestant in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the affidavit, which is part of his nomination papers, in the Access Infrastructure and Telecommunications Ltd, Sonawar, Irfan Ansari has fifty per cent stakes as his wife has ten percent stake in the Lands and Trucking Private Ltd. Besides, Ansari Junior owns 90 per cent in Access Infrastructure and Telemedia Private Ltd, Sonawar; 90 per cent of equity in Landed Automotives Pvt Ltd, Sonawar; 90 percent in Ghadeer Industries Ltd, Sonawar; 90 per cent in Lands and Trucking Private Ltd; 80 per cent in Ansland Earth Movers Pvt Ltd; and 40 per cent in Anlon Foods Pvt Ltd.

Though Irfan has stated that his overall movable assets are Rs 7.34 crore but the detailed listing of his affidavit suggests that he has a huge fleet of cars valuing almost Rs 9.29 crore. These include a Fortuner (Rs 24 lakh), Mercedes G6S (Rs 1.3 Cr), Mercedes E 220 (two numbers) worth Rs 1.2 Cr, Mercedes S500 (Rs 1.5 Cr), Innova (Rs 25 lakh), Range Rover (Rs 2.10 Cr), Toyota Land Cruiser (Rs 1.2 Cr), Toyota Camray (Rs 35 Lakh), Volks Wagon Polo (Rs 8 lakh), Davidson Fat Boy Bike worth Rs 21 lakh, a Tempo Traveller (Rs 14 lakh) and a Motor Boat. Irfan’s personal jewellery is worth a million rupees as his wife has it for Rs 30 lakh, according to Ansari’s affidavit. The contestant has listed his landed estate which includes two orchards – 130 Kanal in Dewar and 50 Kanals in Qumroo. Both value Rs 12 crore at current costs. His non-agriculture land is 4 Kanals and 15 marals in Rampora and 13 marals in Khuspora; 8 Kanals at Parimpora; 4 Kanals in Parimpora – a total 17 Kanals – all worth Rs 42.40 crores. Ansari Juniors’ built infrastructure is at Khushipora and Parimpora which both costs a cumulative Rs 14 crore. Besides, he owns half of the two buildings at Dewar and Rampora which values at Rs 2.80 crore. Ansari’s total movable assets are at Rs 59.20 crore at the current value according to the owner. Interestingly, the business tycoon’s overall liability is at Rs 6.23 crore. National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah has represented the central Kashmir Srinagar in the parliament many times. In the last by-elections, he was supported by Tariq Hameed Karra, the man who had defeated him in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Karra, then with PDP, quit the party and joined the Congress, an NC ally. But what are the assets of Dr Abdullah, a four-time Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1996. His affidavit is hand-written, unlike all others. Most of his earnings are in the saving bank accounts or in the shape of FDRs. In seven bank accounts, Dr Farooq has Rs 15004435. He has mentioned that a case of criminal conspiracy in the misappropriation of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) funds are pending against him before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar. The case was investigated by the CBI. Dr Farooq owns two cars – a Grand Vitara and a Scorpio, both valuing eight lakh rupees. He has put his cumulative movable assets at Rs 1.59 crore. Dr Farooq has stated that his agriculture land of 9 Kanals and 3 Marlas’ at Khalmula In Ganderbala and Nandpora in Srinagar is worth two crore rupees. He also owns 1.8 Kanals of commercial land at Soura that values Rs 60 lakhs. He also owns one-third of the Dhananji Building at Sonawar valuing Rs 2.80 crore. This is in addition to his homes at Gupkar and Jammu which values more than Rs 4.50 crore at current valuation. Dr Farooq has put his entire immovable property at a value of Rs 10.60 crore.

PDP candidate Agha Syed Mohsin, a resident of Budgam has stated that his immovable assets are Rs 18.50 lakh of which Rs 3.50 lakh is the depreciated value of his Scorpio vehicle. His wife owns golden jewellery worth two lakh rupees. He has no agriculture land. But Agha owns non-agriculture land of around seven Kanals that value Rs 35 lakh. He also owns two buildings, including the one in which he lives, worth a crore. He has mentioned his profession as ‘religious leader’. Engineer Rasheed’s Awami Itehad Party has fielded a resident of Batamaloo, Bilal Sultan, from Srinagar. His entire movable assets are worth Rs 10.56 lakh including two cars, some cash and some jewellery. He owns 10 Kanals of agriculture land worth Rs 50 lakh, and a home worth Rs 63 lakh. He owes banks Rs 80,000. BJP has fielded Khalid Jehangir, a resident of Ganderbal – who now lives in Wanbal area of Budgam, from the Srinagar constituency. He has mentioned that Nayeem Akhter has filed a criminal complaint against him and the case is in the High Court. His movable assets are at Rs 64 lakh and his wife’s at Rs 39 lakh. His fleet has four cars – a Fortuner (Rs 24 lakh), a Mahindra XUV (Rs 16 lakh), a Maruti Ertiga (Rs 8 lakh) and Nano. He owns a 2BHK flat at Jay Pee Builders in Noida and with his wife another 2BHK flat at Royal Palms Akhnoor. His wife owns 1.2 Kanal land at Sonawar and the Rawalpora House. Besides, his wife also owns five Kanals of land and a house at Prang in Kangan and a 3BHK Flat at Nepture Greens in Chuwadi in Jammu. He has declared in the affidavit that his immovable property valued at Rs 1.5 crore and that of his wife four crore rupees. His liability comprises two housing loans from J&K Bank worth Rs 38 lakh. There are many independents and candidates from smaller parties in the contest as well. One of them is Abdul Rashid Ganai, a resident of Chakpora, Manigam, who, in his statement has said that he owns immovable assets of Rs 2.50 lakh and his wife has Rs 75,000. He has no other asset or a liability. Abdul Khaliq Bhat, a resident of Doyen in Chadoora is also in the contest. He has Rs 10,000 each in cash and in the bank and a home worth Rs 50 lakhs. He has no other assets and no liability at all, according to his affidavit. He has been given mandate by Shiv Sena.

Another candidate in the fray is Abdul Rashid Banday, a resident of Haberdard Lassipora in Khag belt of Budgam. His entire movable assets are Rs 50,000, which are in his bank account and his wife has Rs 5000 of jewellery. But his 36 Kanal land values Rs 1.80 crore. His wife owns his home of Rs 12 lakh, the affidavit says. Sajjad Ahmad Dar, a resident of Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam has filed his nomination from Srinagar. He has Rs 25000 in hand and Rs 2000 in the bank. He has nothing more, nothing less, according to his affidavit which is part of his nomination. A resident of Wayil in Ganderbal, Showkat Ahmad Khan is another candidate from Janta Dal (U). He has Rs 90,000 in cash but travels in a Toyota Fortuner worth Rs 25 lakh. He has a 2-storey home worth Rs 70 lakhs.