Tharoor's personality assets were a liability in New York as the permanent members of the Security Council preferred a more pliant person, but Tharoor's personal assets have become a matter of interest here.
His declared assets amount to Rs 15 to 23 crores, depending on the exchange rate applied to convert his US dollars, Canadian dollars, euros and UAE dirhams. Part of this belongs to his Canadian wife, who also works for the United Nations. No one questions his integrity as the UN is considered a benevolent paymaster, but being perceived as the richest man in the fray has its disadvantages.
The closest to him in wealth has less than Rs 2 crores and most others have very little declared wealth. Many hang around his campaign headquarters to offer services at higher prices because of his perceived capacity to pay. Some see his wealth as a positive point as he will not engage in corrupt practices if he is in Parliament or government.
Many are amused that he or his wife does not own an automobile as they do not know that having a car in Manhattan is a liability. Tharoor once remarked that he had access to thousands of cars in Manhattan, all of them yellow and many of them driven by Sardars!
Also see: These stars have lost their political shine
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