Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has reported the lowest declared wealth among candidates nominated for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from the state. Details from the election affidavits show that Kumar’s total assets amount to ₹1.66 crore, including both movable and immovable property.

According to the financial disclosure submitted during the nomination process, Kumar earned ₹7.87 lakh during the 2024–25 financial year. His liquid cash holdings are modest, standing at ₹20,552, while his total movable assets, including savings, jewellery and a vehicle, are estimated at around ₹17.9 lakh.

Limited Personal Assets

The affidavit reveals that the chief minister’s personal valuables are minimal. His jewellery holdings consist of a 20-gram gold ring and a pearl-embedded silver ring, together valued at approximately ₹2.37 lakh. In addition, Kumar owns a Ford EcoSport, purchased in 2015 for about ₹11.32 lakh, which is listed as his only vehicle.

Kumar’s real estate portfolio is also limited to a single property. He owns a flat in the Parliament Cooperative Housing Society in Dwarka, New Delhi, which he purchased in 2004 for ₹13.78 lakh. The current estimated value of the property is around ₹1.48 crore, making it the most significant component of his declared wealth.

Huge Wealth Gap With Other Candidates

While Kumar’s financial disclosures indicate a relatively modest asset base, other candidates in the race have reported significantly higher wealth. The richest among them is RJD nominee Amarendra Dhari Singh, also known as AD Singh, who has declared total assets worth about ₹243 crore.

Singh’s affidavit shows ₹206.98 crore in movable assets and ₹36.03 crore in immovable property. He also reported ₹4.5 lakh in cash, along with 43.20 grams of gold and around 5 kilograms of silver. His assets include multiple vehicles, including cars from Toyota and Hyundai.

Financial Details of Other Nominees

Several other candidates have also revealed their financial status through their election affidavits.

Ramnath Thakur, a JD(U) leader and current Rajya Sabha member, has declared total assets of ₹3.12 crore. This includes ₹1.64 crore in movable assets and ₹1.48 crore in immovable property. His income for the 2024–25 financial year is recorded at ₹35.77 lakh, and he holds ₹1.26 lakh in cash.

BJP leader Nitin Nabin reported movable assets worth around ₹1.16 crore, while his wife’s movable assets amount to approximately ₹84 lakh. Though Nabin himself does not own any immovable property, his wife possesses assets valued at around ₹1.47 crore. His declaration also lists ₹55,000 in cash, about ₹62 lakh in bank deposits, vehicles including a Scorpio and an Innova Crysta, and a loan liability close to ₹32 lakh.

Another BJP nominee, Shivesh Kumar, disclosed an annual income of ₹24.35 lakh, while his spouse reported ₹6.57 lakh. His affidavit mentions ₹2.24 lakh in cash and around ₹24 lakh in bank deposits. Kumar’s movable assets are valued at approximately ₹98 lakh, while his immovable assets are estimated at ₹2.72 crore. He also reported liabilities of about ₹12.2 lakh and owns several vehicles, including a Scorpio, a Maruti car and an Innova Crysta.

Meanwhile, Upendra Kushwaha, leader of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), declared ₹44.94 lakh in movable assets and ₹35 lakh in immovable property. His affidavit lists ₹70,000 in cash, 10 grams of gold, and ownership of a Toyota car.

Importance of Asset Disclosure

Candidates contesting elections in India are required to submit detailed financial affidavits as part of the nomination process. These declarations are intended to promote transparency and allow voters to understand the economic backgrounds of political candidates. In the case of the Bihar Rajya Sabha contest, the filings highlight a wide gap in the financial profiles of nominees, ranging from modest holdings to multi-crore fortunes.

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