Election affidavits sometimes make interesting reading. Known to reveal the assets of candidates, their net worth and other crucial info, including their criminal background, the document also lists out the dues that the candidate is yet to clear.
Being a member of the legislative assembly, past or present, entitles one to several benefits, including vehicle and housing loans. Affidavits have revealed that several present and former MLAs had made use of this facility, but have yet to pay their dues.
Former Goa Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao who is now contesting from Cuncolim owes the government dues worth Rs 80.95 lakh. Margao MLA Digambar Kamat owes Rs 31.93 lakh to the government by way of a vehicle loan and towards the purchase of a row house that was worth Rs 12.81 lakh and Rs 19.12 lakh respectively.
Siolim MLA and second time hopeful, Dayanand Mandrekar owes Rs 31.82 lakh, Rs 22 lakh for a housing loan and Rs 9.80 lakh as a vehicle advance. Other MLAs that owe money to the state government include Rajendra Arlekar, Milind Naik, Sudin and brother Deepak Dhavlikar, Vijay Sardesai, Mahadev Naik and Damu Naik.
Apart from government loans, several MLAs have also found themselves to be in trouble with income tax payments. The one with the highest dispute was Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monseratte with a total of Rs 1.3 crore. Under affidavits filed by Monserate, her income tax payments that were under dispute were for the financial year 2010-11, that totaled Rs 1.29 crore and for 2013-14 Rs 1.32 lakh.
Her husband Babush Monserate, also declared income tax disputes for 2006-07 being Rs 26.94 lakh and Rs 7.65 lakh for 2011-12. Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar's income tax from 2013 to 2016 stand at Rs 54,220.
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Candidate Amount due (in lakh) Details
Joaquim Alemao 80.95 Government dues
Digambar Kamat 31.93 Vehicle loan (Rs 12,81,125)
Purchase of row house (Rs 19,12,500)
Dayanand Mandrekar 31.82 Housing loan (Rs. 22,01,700)
Vehicle advance (Rs 9,80,461)
Rajendra Arlekar 24.30 Goa Legislature Secretariat plot loan
Milind Naik 22.26 Car loan (Rs 3,36,800)
Housing loan (Rs 18,90,000)
Sudin Dhavlikar 14.38 Goa Legislative Dept vehicle loan
Mahadev Naik 13.60 Goa Legislative Dept vehicle advance
Vijai Sardesai 9.96 Goa Legislative Dept Car Loan
Deepak Dhavlikar 2.36 Vehicle loan
Damu Naik 2.15 Govt accommodation (Rs 1,72,271)
Govt transport (Rs 43,048)
