Shakti Rani of BJP wealthiest in Panchkula district, but least qualified
The BJP leader, Shakti Rani Sharma is the wealthiest among prominent leaders who filed their nomination papers in the district today. Shakti Rani and Pardeep Chaudhary of the Congress filed their papers for the Kalka Assembly seat, while Gian Chand Gupta of the BJP filed his nomination for Panchkula seat. The most qualified among the three, Chaudhary faces criminal charges.
The leaders held their respective roadshows.
Shakti Rani (71) has the lowest educational qualification. She passed Class X (matric) from Jabalpur in MP. She and her husband Venod Sharma have total cumulative assets worth Rs 145 crore. They have collective moveable assets worth Rs 112 crore and immovable properties worth Rs 33 crore lakh. However, the couple owns only vehicle, a 2012 model Maruti Vitara Brezza worth Rs 9.22 lakh, which is registered on Venod Sharma’s name. They have Rs 38 lakh in cash besides gold, silver and precious stones worth Rs 1.86 crore. Among immovable properties, the two own agricultural land, including an orchid at Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, parcels in Hallo Majra village of Chandigarh, land in Solan, Manali and Barog. They also own residential properties in New Delhi, Ambala and Chandigarh.
Gian Chand Gupta (76) and his wife have total cumulative assets worth Rs 19.37 crore. Gupta’s assets have grown by Rs 7 crore (from Rs 12.21 crore in 2019 to Rs 19.37 crore in 2024) during his past five-year tenure as Panchkula MLA. His educational qualification is higher secondary. With Rs 2.30 lakh cash, Gupta owns a Baleno car worth Rs 3.90 lakh and an Innova worth Rs 29.68 lakh, which is registered in his name. The two have jewellery worth Rs 41.80 lakh. The couple owns agricultural properties in Barwala worth Rs 3.65 crore along with commercial properties and shares in Chandigarh and Mohali, and a residential property in Sector 17, Panchkula.
Their Rs 7.79 lakh of total liabilities. Congress candidate from Kalka Pardeep Chaudhary (63) is the only one who, as per his submissions, has been convicted in a criminal case registered in Solan in 2013 for being a member of unlawful assembly and causing damage to public property. His conviction has been stayed by the HP High Court. He is also facing charges in a state Vigilance Bureau case registered in Hisar in relation to appointment of ineligible persons to posts of lecturer in Chaudhary Devi Lal Engineering College, Sirsa.
Chaudhary, his wife and dependent mother have moveable properties, including cash, gold and shares worth Rs 2.16 crore. Along with Rs 5.20 lakh in cash, the family owns four vehicles, including two Toyota Innovas, a Grand Vitara and a Scala car. Their cumulative gold holdings are worth Rs 94.50 lakh.
They own agricultural land in the villages of Billa, Bhud and Mattanwala of Panchkula district besides commercial and residential properties and other immovable properties worth Rs 35.80 crore.
Chaudhary’s educational qualification is BA from Panjab University, which he did in 1981.
