Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s Election Affidavit Dispute, Shashi Tharoor: Minister’s Sarcastic Remark in Affidavit Dispute

The BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar is the junior Union Electronics and IT Minister. As per his mandatory disclosure, he stated that his income is derived solely from his salary and perks as an MP or Minister, along with interest/dividend from savings/investments. In the year 2021-2022, his taxable income was significantly reduced due to partnership losses incurred during the Covid period. The Thiruvananthapuram seat has historically alternated between the Left and the Congress since 1977, with the BJP never winning it.

Chandrasekhar asserted that attempts by the Congress to divert voters from the main issues of progress, development, jobs, and investments will not succeed. He also made remarks targeting the Congress’s “first family” and Mr. Tharoor, citing charges against the Congress in the National Herald case and Mr. Tharoor’s alleged lobbying for an Indian Premier League franchise for Kochi in 2010. In his disclosure, Chandrasekhar declared assets worth Rs 28 crore, including cash, bank deposits, various holdings, bonds, debentures, shares, units in companies/mutual funds, and a vintage motorcycle valued at an estimated Rs 3.25 crore. His sole declared immovable asset was a plot of non-agricultural land in Bengaluru in Karnataka worth an estimated Rs 14.4 crore.

The opposition, Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front, has alleged that the Union Minister failed to fully disclose his income for the year and his connection to Jupiter Capital – a holding company, accusing him of hiding his true assets. They also claimed that Chandrasekhar did not disclose other owned real estate, including property in Bengaluru. The BJP leader has denied these charges.