After Congress moved the Election Commission of India (ECI) complaint a mismatch between the actual assets of Thiruvananthapuram BJP Lok Sabha candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar, he claimed that his taxable income sharply reduced due to losses he incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Presenting what he stated were “facts” on the matter, Chandrasekhar wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I have ONLY been in public life for several years and my income is derived ONLY from MP/minister salary, perks, and interest/dividend from savings/investments.”
“In the year 2021-2022, my taxable income was sharply reduced because of partnership (in his businesses) losses incurred during the Covid period,” he said.
He also criticised Congress saying it plans to run a campaign about his taxable income.
“Irony certainly died when Cong whose first family is on trial for stealing properties and transferring it to their name surreptitiously and other shenanigans and a candidate who had to resign as minister for his illegal IPL ‘interests’ start talking abt disclosures and taxation.
“This obvious attempt to distract voters from main issues of Progress, Development, Jobs, Skills, Investments will NOT work”, Chandrasekhar said.
Chandrasekhar’s clarification after the poll body directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to verify any mismatch in the affidavit details submitted by him.
According to the affidavit, which he gave while submitting his nomination papers, Chandrasekhar’s total income shown in the 2022-23 Income Tax return is Rs 5,59,200, while it was Rs 680 for the year 2021-22.
He is contesting from the Thiruvananthapuram seat against incumbent MP and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and LDF candidate CPI’s Pannyan Raveendran.