Tamil Nadu polls 2026: 3 richest candidates declare over ₹1,000 crore

By Akanksha
April 08, 2026

Twitter

Scrutiny Check

Nomination scrutiny across Tamil Nadu led to rejection of non-compliant applications, while affidavits revealed candidates’ declared assets and financial standings.

Three candidates dominate the wealth rankings, with disclosures showing large movable and immovable assets influencing the electoral landscape.

Asset Lead: Leema Rose Martin

Leema Rose Martin tops the list with ₹1,048 crore in declared assets, including ₹139 crore movable wealth and ₹909 crore in land and buildings.

Family Wealth

Her affidavit also lists family holdings: husband Martin with ₹4,149 crore and son Jose Martin with ₹662 crore, indicating significant extended wealth.

Constituency Role

She contests from Lalgudi in Tiruchirappalli district on an AIADMK ticket, making her the wealthiest entrant in the Tamil Nadu elections.

Second Rank: Vijay

Actor-politician Vijay ranks second, declaring ₹624 crore in total assets, including ₹410 crore in movable wealth in his nomination affidavit.

Dual Contest

He is contesting from Tiruchirappalli East and Chennai Perambur, representing Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in a high-profile electoral entry.

Party Presence

With another TVK candidate also in the top three, his position underscores the party’s financial prominence in the current electoral field.

Third Spot

Aadhav Arjuna holds third place with ₹197.49 crore in assets, including ₹180 crore movable and ₹17.49 crore in immovable properties.

Loan Exposure

His affidavit reports loans extended worth ₹155 crore, reflecting financial activity beyond owned assets in his declared profile.

Party Link

Contesting from Villivakkam as a TVK candidate, he joins Vijay in placing the same party among the top wealth holders in the election.

See More Stories