The entry of a controversial lottery tycoon’s scion with a ₹597-crore wealth portfolio into the electoral arena has not only put your average crorepati candidate in the shade, but could also reset the balance between bankrolled outreach and grassroot effort in the election campaign in Puducherry.
Jose Charles Martin, Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) founder and son of lottery tycoon Santiago Martin, is making his electoral debut as the NDA candidate in one of the city’s highly urbanised constituencies — Kamaraj Nagar.
In his affidavit to the Election Department, the businessman-turned-politician has declared net assets to the tune of ₹597 crore in the form of bank deposits, shares, gold, silver, diamond, pearls, and luxury cars, including immovable assets worth ₹269 crore, and a declared debt of ₹210 crore. He is far and away the wealthiest candidate in the fray.
It is moot whether the deep-pocketed businessman’s wealth portfolio had anything to do with the LJK’s entry into the NDA, overriding the opposition from the BJP’s ally, the AINRC, led by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. Reportedly, the path to the LJK’s electoral debut in two seats (Kamaraj Nagar and Nellithope), on a par with the number allocated to the AIADMK, was eventually cleared following a call from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Mr. Rangasamy.
