AIADMK’s Lalgudi candidate Leema Rose Martin
NEW DELHI: AIADMK’s Lalgudi candidate Leema Rose Martin has emerged as the richest contestant in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, declaring assets worth approximately Rs 1,049.56 crore in her election affidavit filed ahead of the April 23 polls.The 58-year-old, wife of lottery businessman Santiago Martin, filed her nomination papers on Monday. Her affidavit shows movable assets worth Rs 139.62 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 909.94 crore, putting her ahead of other high-value candidates in the race, including Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, who has declared assets worth over Rs 603 crore.The 159-page affidavit shows that her immovable properties are spread across multiple districts, including Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Tiruppur. She also owns agricultural holdings in Kerala and near New Delhi. Her annual income for the 2024-25 financial year was reported at Rs 9.82 crore.The candidate’s educational qualification is listed as Class VI. The affidavit also states that she has business interests in real estate, gaming and the hospitality sector.Her husband, Santiago Martin, has declared movable assets worth Rs 3,262.01 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 887.36 crore. Her son, Jose Charles Martin, who is contesting from Puducherry on a BJP ticket, has reported assets totalling over Rs 664 crore. Her son-in-law, TVK Villivakkam candidate Aadhav Arjuna, has declared total assets worth Rs 197 crore.The affidavit notes that both Leema Rose Martin and her husband each own three TVS XL mopeds. Their personal vehicle collection also includes a Hyundai Creta and a Mahindra Thar.Rose has disclosed four pending criminal cases against her. A significant portion of her legal matters relates to proceedings initiated by the Income Tax Department. These cases involve the transfer of tax assessments from Coimbatore to Kolkata, a move that she and her daughter, Daisy Martin Aadhav Arjuna, unsuccessfully challenged in the Madras High Court in late 2024.As the wife of Santiago Martin, she has also been named in matters related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These investigations typically stem from the Enforcement Directorate’s long-standing scrutiny of her husband’s lottery business and alleged “proceeds of crime” totaling hundreds of crores.The cases are currently being handled in various jurisdictions, including specialised courts in Chennai and Kolkata.The Lalgudi seat is expected to witness a high-profile contest as Tamil Nadu heads to the polls on April 23, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
