Worth Rs 95 cr,Mr & Mrs Sirsa try their fortune in MCD polls

“In the community park,I also heard people talking about the sorry state of development in the area. That day I decided to contest elections. No one can find a potholed road in my ward now,” Sirsa says.

Punjabi Bagh,the ward that Sirsa represented so far,has been reserved for women this time,and his wife Satwinder Kaur Sirsa is now contesting next month’s municipal elections from here on a BJP ticket backed by the Shiromani Akali Dal.

Sirsa is an agriculturist and a real estate owner by profession,and the couple are jointly worth nearly Rs 95 crore,as per the affidavit Satwinder submitted to the SEC while filing her nomination.

Among the many assets listed in the affidavit,they own an enviable fleet of luxury cars,that includes a Bentley,a Mercedes SUV and a Land Rover,among others.

The couple jointly own movable assets worth nearly Rs 58 crore,and immovable assets to the tune of Rs 12 crore,as per Satwinder’s affidavit. The purchase price and development cost of the couple’s immovable property stands at Rs 23 crore.

The Sirsa family would seem an unlikely contender for a municipal councillor’s job,which requires dealing with issues like urban waste,drains,roads and parking on a daily basis. Ask about his family business and Sirsa is quick to reply,“My family belongs to Sirsa,and everyone is an agriculturist.”

Sirsa won his first election in 2007 while Satwinder had never thought of taking to politics. But when the ward her husband represents was reserved for women,she decided to take the plunge.

“We want to ensure living conditions in this area are of the highest standard. So if my husband cannot contest,I will. We share a common vision,” Satwinder says.

Sirsa says he will help his wife understand the work of a councillor,if she wins,and he hopes he would get more time for his family business.

“When I was a councillor,my wife handled my business. Now,I would focus on my business and my wife would take care of the ward,” Sirsa says.