Ghatkopar MLA Parag Shah Becomes Maharashtra’s Richest Candidate With Rs 3,383 Crore Net Worth

Mumbai: Parag Shah, BJP 's candidate from Ghatkopar East, has declared assets amounting to ₹3,383.06 crore, making him the wealthiest candidate contesting the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls. Shah, a sitting MLA and prominent realtor, reported ₹3,315.52 crore in movable assets under his and his wife's names, alongside ₹67.53 crore in immovable property.

Over the past five years, Shah’s assets have surged by an impressive 575%. In his 2019 affidavit, he had reported assets valued at ₹550.62 crore, including those of his wife and family.

Shah, 55, has led the MICI Group for 25 years and recently made headlines following a brief health scare, which he dismissed, saying, “In politics, if you cough, people start assuming you have tuberculosis.”

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024

The ruling BJP is contesting 148 assembly seats in Maharashtra, the highest among half a dozen major political parties in the ruling and opposition camps, followed by the Congress which is contesting 103 seats.

Nearly 8,000 candidates, including those from major political parties in the ruling Mahyuti as well as the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), filed nominations for the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra at the end of the process on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde -led Shiv Sena has fielded candidates in 80 seats, while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar 's NCP has nominated 53 contestants for the November 20 polls. Five seats were given to other Mahayuti allies while no decision was taken on two segments.

In the MVA, the Congress is contesting 103 seats followed by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) 89 and Sharad Pawar 's NCP (SP) 87 seats. Six seats were given to other MVA allies, while there was no clarity on three assembly segments.

As many as 7,995 candidates have filed 10,905 nominations with the Election Commission (EC) for the polls, a statement issued by the office of the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said on Tuesday.

Filing of nominations by candidates began on October 22 and the process ended on Tuesday.