A Share In Power?

Here’s the surprise. Over a third of the current Lok Sabha members are enthusiastic followers of the equity cult. They own shares of both listed and unlisted firms, and some of them seek safer options like mutual funds and bonds. They include members from all parties, even the communists. Here’s a ready reckoner of who owns what in which company, based on affidavits filed with the Election Commission.

Sonia Gandhi, Congress
500 shares of Western India Tanneries, 10 of Maruti Technical Services and Rs 10.50 lakh in RBI bonds

P. Chidambaram, Congress
Bulk of Rs 58-lakh investment is in Kapaleeswarar Estates; his wife has holdings in RIL, Reliance Petro & Mangalore Refineries

Kamal Nath, Congress
Most of his money is in unlisted firms, but his wife has holdings in Colgate,HLL, Nestle, Hero Honda, HFCL, Zee, Moser Baer, DSQ and Nocil

Renuka Chowdhury, Congress
Owns Rs 1 crore of shares herself, spouse has for Rs 3.26 crore, Rs 6 lakh in the names of dependents

Dayanidhi Maran, DMK
With his wife has 60,000 shares of DMS Entertainment, 75,000 shares of HFQ Entertainment, 80 in RIL and 200 of Crompton Greaves

T.R. Baalu, DMK
Investments in unlisted firms like Meenam Fisheries and Kings India Power; names two spouses with investments in same firms

Sharad Pawar, NCP
Himself owns Rs 8.5 lakh worth of shares, another Rs 51 lakh worth in wife’s name, and Rs 13 lakh in child’s (specifics not disclosed)

L.K. Advani, BJP
His wife owns shares in Daurala Organics and Swayam Entertainment; since the EC only insists on assets held by dependents, his son doesn’t figure in the list

George Fernandes, Samata Party
A former trade unionist and anti-MNC man famous for his battles against the colas, he has invested Rs 14.60 lakh in shares and debentures of various (Indian) companies