List Of Rich Candidates In First Phase of Uttar Pradesh Elections 2017

Uttar Pradesh votes tomorrow in the first of its seven-phase elections. The battle for control of the 403-seat state is also being seen as a determiner of the next prime minister, in the run up to general election in 2019. It's a three-cornered contest between the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance, the BJP and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party. But other players such as Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal remain relevant because of their dedicated followings.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who has wrested control of SP from his father Mulayam Singh, has allied with the Congress spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi. Mr Yadav's aspiration of a second consecutive term is being challenged by the BJP which is relying on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's star power. The BJP had won 72 of 80 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 general elections. The elections in UP will also be a first major referendum for his notes ban in November last year that led to a temporary but a massive shortage of cash in the country. The move has been attacked by a united opposition for its implementation.

The third but a commanding competitor is Dalit icon and four-time Chief Minister of the state Mayawati. The BSP is eyeing a consolidation of votes from Muslims and its traditional Dalit base.

To give you more on the candidates fielded by each party, here's a list of rich candidates in phase 1 of the UP elections 2017, whose declared income and assets total over Rs 1 crore.