Amid the election season in West Bengal, the debate around the richest candidate has again popped up. However, it is important to note that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not among the richest candidates
in the 2026 assembly elections.
Banerjee is contesting the 2026 West Bengal elections from Bhabanipur in Kolkata, the seat that she represents in the Assembly.
According to the election affidavit, Mamata Banerjee, the three-time Chief Minister of West Bengal, does not own a house, a car, or any significant immovable property.
Banerjee declared Rs 15.4 lakh worth of total assets with her annual income mentioned as Rs 23,21,570 in 2024-25, compared to Rs 20,72,740 in 2023–24. Her earnings peaked in 2021–22 at Rs 38,14,410.
Her net worth is being compared to that of the richest candidate contesting the Bengal polls. Jakir Hussain — the richest candidate in the Phase I elections — is a TMC candidate from the Jangipur Assembly constituency.
Who is Jakir Hussain?
As per the affidavit filed with the Election Commission, Husain has movable assets worth Rs 74 crore and immovable assets worth around Rs 58.6 crore, making his net worth over Rs 133 crore.
Hussain has declared that he had Rs 74,38,218 worth of cash in hand, while his spouse had Rs 69,12,206.
No cars, aircraft or yachts are declared in his possession; however, he has a gun worth Rs 68,70,500, and 2000 grams of gold coins worth Rs 28,91,21,500. Additionally, he declared Rs 13,22,00,518 in equity shares, Rs 39,46,898 in Demat shares, and Rs 10,95,548 in Mutual Funds. This also excludes the shares held by his spouse and other family members.
The TMC candidate also declared a large tract of land in his name, including residential and commercial buildings in Kolkata and Basudevpur.
Meanwhile, a BJP candidate, Palash Rana, is from the Raidighi assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas is the richest candidate in Phase II of the West Bengal polls.
Who is Palash Rana?
Rana declared in his affidavit that he has Rs 10,00,000 “cash in hand”, while his spouse has Rs 2,50,000. He and his spouse have around Rs 70 lakh in fixed deposits and other types of deposits, the affidavit states.
An Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report claimed that his movable assets are worth around Rs 21,57,56,390. However, in his affidavit, Rana declared movable assets worth Rs 4 crore.
Rana holds shares in Mathurapur Agro India Private Limited. (99.89%), valued at Rs 16,46,73,000, and in Fastpin Network Services (India) (93%), valued at Rs 1,86,000.
He also owns five boats and two cars; 100 grams of Platinum worth Rs 5,91,500 and 200 grams of gold worth Rs 1,24,51,500.
