41 candidates in the fray for Marathwada graduates' seat; Pratapsinh Patil richest, affidavits show

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Thirteen candidates pulled out of the Marathwada graduates' constituency election to the Legislative Council on Friday, October 9, the last day for withdrawals, leaving 41 in the fray. Campaigning has begun. Polling will be held on October 23 from 8 am to 4 pm, and votes will be counted on October 27.

The main contest is between the Mahayuti's Satish Chavan of the Nationalist Congress Party, who has won the seat three times in a row, Dilip Ghuge of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Pratapsinh Patil of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). With both Ghuge and Patil staying in the race, the Maha Vikas Aghadi partners will face each other in a 'friendly fight'. BJP rebel M. K. Deshmukh withdrew.

According to the affidavits filed with the Election Commission, Patil is the richest candidate in the race, declaring assets of ₹48.24 crore: ₹8.90 crore movable and ₹39.34 crore immovable. He has ₹25 lakh in cash and his wife ₹20 lakh.

Chavan, contesting for the fourth time, has declared movable and immovable assets of ₹38 crore held by him and his wife, including about ₹25 crore in farmland, plots and other property, and loans of ₹6 crore in their names. Ghuge has declared assets of ₹1.26 crore, made up of ₹1.13 crore in immovable and ₹13 lakh in movable property.

Sources: Pudhari; Saam TV