The number of ‘crorepati candidates’ in the fray for the Lok Sabha election from Kerala has been on the rise since 2009. That year, only nine candidates had total assets worth over ₹1 crore each. It shot up to 39 in the election held in 2014. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the total number of crorepati candidates increased to 45, according to an analysis of the self-sworn affidavits of the candidates carried out by the poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The candidates of the Congress party had topped the list of crorepati candidates in 2009. Of the total nine on the list, four were Congress candidates. There were two Independent candidates and one member each representing the Communist Party of India (Marxist); Nationalist Congress Party; and Bahujan Samaj Party in the crorepati club. Shashi Tharoor of the Congress had the highest total assets of about ₹21.2 crore in among the candidates from the State in 2009.
