Bangalore, August 13: He is barely 25, but worth Rs 770 crore. His enormous declared assets make Priya Krishna, the Congress candidate for the August 18 bypoll in Govindrajnagar Assembly constituency in Bangalore, the richest candidate to ever contest polls in the country.
This honour earlier belonged to the BSP’s West Delhi candidate Deepak Bhardwaj, who was worth Rs 603 crore, during the May Lok Sabha elections. Businessman Khimji Patadia, who stood for the Surendranagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat from a small party called the Krantikari Jaihind Sena, is a close third with assets worth Rs 514.57 crore.
Priya Krishna total assets are Rs 770 crore, but his liabilities are Rs 734 crore. He owns nine sites in Bangalore worth Rs 27 crore; he has Rs 2.6 crore in cash; 20 deposits in various banks amounting to over Rs 50 crore; shares worth Rs 17 crore; five cars, including an Audi, worth Rs 2 crore; and has invested Rs 88 crore in business ventures.
All these he had declared in the affidavit filed with the Election Commission. All this money is actually made by his father, a real estate magnate and Congress MLA from neighbouring Vijayanagar segment, M. Krishnappa. Popularly known as Layout Krishnappa, he had filed 15 pages of assets running into over a hundred crore in 2008. But this wealth pales in front of his son’s.
Despite his wealth, Priya Krishna is a modest man. He is a quiet person and goes door-todoor with folded hands to seek votes.
Priya Krishna ploy is unique. He tells the voters in his slum dominated urban constituency: “The only demand people make is basic amenities. I have told them: ‘If I cannot get the government to deliver, I will do it with my own money. I can afford it and I will do it’.” It is this line that has sent the electorate into frenzy.
The boisterous Congress workers announce Priya Krishna as the jinke mari (fawn) of the area, a line from a famous Kannada film song. This worries the resident lion of the constituency – V. Somanna, the muzrai (temple administration) minister in the V.S. Yeddyurappa government.
Somanna, originally from the Janata Dal, moved to the Congress around 10 years ago. However, as part of the BJP’s “Operation Kamala” where Opposition legislators were lured to quit their seats and join them, Somanna gave in to the lure of a ministry. He quit the Congress and vacated the Govindrajnagar seat, necessitating the bypoll.
Somanna himself is a crorepati , but his Rs 2.38 crore looks loose change compared to Priya Krishna’s millions.
He has deep roots, a well formed network and constant interaction with the people.
Still he has to deal with Priya Krishna’s ever- growing popularity as his wealth has captured the imagination of the youth and women in Govindarajnagar.
Moreover, the “fawn” enjoys former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief H.D. Deve Gowda support. There is supposed to be a proposed matrimonial alliance between Priya Krishna and Gowda’s granddaughter!
–Agencies