Podcast | Top Karnataka politicians and their riches

Confirming public perception that politics is the most lucrative and completely unregulated business in the country, many a candidate contesting the Karnataka assembly elections has filed sworn affidavits affirming that they own mind-boggling assets.

Writing for Moneycontrol, Ramakrishna Upadhya, confirms to us a truism we have known and endured — politics is the most lucrative and perhaps the most unregulated business in the country.

While Chief minister Siddaramaiah revealed assets worth a modest Rs 18.55 crore as against Rs 7.65 crore in 2013, his son, S Yatheendra, who is contesting for the first time from Varuna, declared assets worth Rs 23.80 crore and liabilities of Rs 8.77 crore.

Among the other chief ministerial aspirants, JD(S)’s HD Kumaraswamy declared Rs 167.14 crore worth of assets as against Rs 137.77 crore five years ago. BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa declared assets worth Rs 6.55 crore, showing a marginal increase of Rs 72 lakh over the last election.