Team Herald

PANJIM: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has roped in Income Tax Department to tackle the menace of unaccounted money influencing electoral outcomes. Almost all the sitting MLAs, who are back in fray for coming polls, are crorepatis with rise in assets in most cases as compared to 2012.

The Election Commission and the Income-Tax Department will scrutinise the affidavits filed by the candidates before the Commission during the upcoming February 4 polls.

Speaking to media persons, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said the Returning Officers are directed to upload affidavits filed by the candidates quickly, so that Income Tax authorities can carry out real-time monitoring. “We have allowed Income-Tax Department to carry out real-time scrutiny of the affidavits filed by the candidates, as per the Income-Tax law,” he said.

Zaidi said that the commission is also keep strong check on clandestine currency exchanges along with deposits in benami bank accounts.

There are total 250 candidates in fray which include 38 sitting MLAs.

As per the affidavits filed by these sitting legislators, except for five MLAs rest all have shown rise in their assets compared to 2012 income.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has shown decline in assets by Rs 1.76 crore- which stands at Rs 8.98 core in 2017 as against Rs 10.74 cr in 2012.

Similarly, former Independent MLA and Fatorda candidate Vijay Sardesai assets has shown negative growth of Rs 10.45 cr (Rs 14.75cr), followed by Monserrate couple- while Jennifer’s assets declined to Rs 15.90 cr from Rs 23.07 cr in 2017, her husband Atanasio, too recorded decrease to Rs 15.41cr as against Rs 23.07cr in 2012.

BJP Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has shown the highest growth in the assets which is around Rs 33 crore. In 2012, his assets stood at Rs 20.69cr and went up to Rs 54.59cr in 2017.