With income worth over Rs 146 cr, Meghalaya assembly speaker Metbah Lyngdoh is richest re-contesting candidate in fray

The second-richest re-contesting candidate is James Sangma, Cabinet Minister and brother of CM Conrad Sangma

With assets of over Rs 146 Crore, Meghalaya assembly speaker and the chief of United Democratic Party (UDP) Metbah Lyngdoh is the richest candidate re-contesting the 2023 Meghalaya Assembly elections. His assets increased to 68 per cent between 2018 and 2023.

In the 2018 assembly elections, Lyngdoh declared assets of Rs. 87.26 Crores. The UDP chief who is re-contesting the 2023 polls from the Mairang Assembly constituency had declared assets of Rs. 146.31 crores, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Meghalaya Election Watch report that analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 61 re-contesting Meghalaya MLAs said.

The other top four re-contesting MLAs with the highest asset increase (Rupees- wise) are:

Cabinet Minister of Health, Forests, and Taxes and NPP MLA from Dadenggre Assembly constituency James Pangsang Kongkal Sangma is the second-richest candidate. His assets have increased 568% or Rs 45.12 crores, from Rs 7.94 crores in 2018 to Rs 53.06 crores in 2023.
James Sangma is the brother of CM Conrad Sangma.

Sniawbhalang Dhar, the minister of Urban Affairs is the third highest richest candidate. He had the highest growth in his assets in the past five years, at 607%. Dhar had declared assets of Rs 6 crore in 2018, and they increased to Rs 45 crore, according to the report. This election, Dhar is contesting again from the Nartiang seat as a member of the NPP.

Former Meghalaya Chief Minister and TMC leader Dr. Mukul Sangma is the fourth-richest candidate. Sangma’s assets have increased from Rs 13.62 crore in 2018 to Rs 28.21 crore in 2023. He contested in the Assembly in 2018 on the Congress ticket from the Songsak constituency and in the 2023 elections, he is contesting on TMC ticket from the Tikrikilla (ST) seat.

Sangma’s wife who is also a TMC leader and contesting the elections from Mahendraganj, Dikkanchi D Shira is the fifth-richest candidate. Dikkanchi D Shira’s assets have increased from 13,59 Crore to 28,20 Crore in 2023. He contested the 2018 elections on Congress ticket from the same seat.

The source of income cited by the candidates in their affidavits are — Agriculture Income, Rent Income, Capital Gain, income from business or MLA salary, the report said.

As per the report, out of the 61 re-contesting Meghalaya MLAs, the assets of 54 MLAs (89%) have increased ranging from 5% to 2284% and the assets of 7 MLAs (11%) have decreased ranging from -1% to -78%.

Chief Minister of Meghalaya and NPP president, Conrad K. Sangma recorded a 164% growth in his assets from Rs 5.33 crore in 2018 to Rs 14.06 crore.

Sole Voice of the People Party MLA who is contesting the Meghalaya elections again in 2023 has registered a maximum increase of 241.08% in his assets from 2018 to 2013.

Meanwhile, the sole Congress MLA who is contesting the Meghalaya elections again in 2023 had recorded just average growth of 5.01% increase in his assets from Rs 2.67 Crore in 2018 to Rs 2.80 Crore in 2023.

28 NPP candidates who are fighting the elections again in 2023 have recorded an increase of 100.16% from 5.69 crore in 2018 to 11.39 crore in 2023.

10 TMC MLAs have recorded a 100.12% hike in assets from Rs 6.29 crore in 2018 to Rs 12.59 crore in 2023.

BJP’s 7 MLAs have recorded just 53.8% growth in their assets from Rs 5.43 crore in 2018 to 8.36 crore in 2023.

Two PDF MLAs also recorded a 56.59% increase in their assets from Rs 1.90 crore in 2018 to Rs 2.98 crore in 2023.

Also Read: Meghalaya Assembly elections: Polling postponed in Sohiong constituency after UDP candidate’s demise

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