Shazia Ilimi is richest Aam Aadmi Party candidate

NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded candidates from varied social backgrounds. This became clearer when candidates started filing their affidavits. Of the 34 affidavits filed till Friday, the richest candidate contesting on an AAP ticket is RK Puram’s Shazia Ilimi with a declared worth of Rs 31.79 crore. On the other end of the spectrum is Dharmendra Singh, contesting from Seemapuri, who has a declared worth of Rs 20,800.

There are 15 crorepatis among the party’s candidates, three whose net worth is less than Rs 4 lakh and another three with declared assets of less than Rs 6 lakh. The party also has four unemployed candidates and one who claims to be self-employed.

“I am unmarried and live with my parents in a resettlement colony. Till my sister Surinder Koli was alive, I helped her with her social service work but now I am completely absorbed with the polls. I have no income or assets. The party has funded my campaign,” said 27-year old Singh. Earlier, his sister Koli was nominated from the Seelampur seat but Singh took her place after she died in a road accident.

Rajan Prakash, the candidate from Kirari, has declared his total assets as Rs 5.9 lakh. However, included in this is a life insurance policy of Rs 5 lakh, the premium for which is also being reportedly paid by a benefactor in the party. “I had quit my job to join AAP and was being paid a minimum stipend. My assets are zero. I had applied for a life insurance policy some years back and after I quit my job, had no means of paying the premium. When I joined AAP, one member decided to help me out and pay my premiums. The party is funding my campaign,” he said.

While Ilmi was a journalist and now does social work, her husband is a businessman and owns several properties in Delhi and other states.

The next in line is Desh Raj Raghav, one of AAP’s most controversial candidates, whose declared worth is Rs 12.64 crore. Raghav is a businessman and contesting from Uttam Nagar. He was only recently exonerated by the Lokayukta in cases filed against him over allegations of owning a multitude of ration shops .