As Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) prepares for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, a new report has brought the spotlight firmly onto the growing wealth disparity among candidates. Data released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), in collaboration with West Bengal Election Watch, reveals a striking concentration of wealth among those contesting the polls.
According to the analysis of 1,475 candidates’ affidavits, as many as 306 contenders—roughly one in five—are “crorepatis,” with declared assets exceeding Rs 1 crore. The average wealth per candidate stands at approximately Rs 1.05 crore, reflecting the increasingly high financial stakes in electoral politics.
The ruling TMC leads by a significant margin. Of its 148 candidates in the first phase, 106, around 72 per cent, are crorepatis, with an average asset value of Rs 2.90 crore. The main opposition, BJP, has 71 crorepatis among 152 candidates (47 per cent), with average assets of Rs 2.53 crore. The CPI(M) and Congress trail behind, with 24 per cent and 20 per cent crorepati candidates respectively.
The report also identifies some of the wealthiest candidates in the fray. Samir Kumar of the TMC, contesting from Jangipur, tops the list with declared assets exceeding Rs 100 crore. BJP’s Gautam Mitra from Bankura follows with assets over Rs 25 crore, while TMC's Ruby Ghosh from South Barasat, with assets above Rs 23 crore, also ranks among the richest.
Political observers link this concentration of wealth within the ruling party to its uninterrupted 15-year tenure in power since 2011, when Mamata rode to victory on the slogan of “Ma-Mati-Manush.”
Analysts argue that financial strength—or “winnability”—has become a decisive factor in candidate selection, often overshadowing grassroots representation. Wealthy candidates, seen as capable of funding expensive campaigns, are increasingly preferred over ordinary party workers. However, the ADR report also highlights stark contrasts. While many candidates boast crores in assets, some enter the electoral arena with almost nothing.
An independent candidate from Domkal has declared assets of just Rs 500, while others from Midnapore and Manbazar report assets of only Rs 1,000. This sharp disparity underscores a broader concern — despite being the cornerstone of democracy, elections remain an uneven playing field. The findings raise pressing questions about accessibility, representation, and the widening gap between political leaders and the citizens they claim to represent.
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