Tamil Nadu Polls: Leema Rose, ‘Lottery King’s’ Wife, Tops List with ₹1,000 Crore Assets
The upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections have begun to draw attention not just for political rivalries but also for the profiles of candidates entering the race. Among them, Leema Rose has quickly become a talking point after filing her nomination from the Lalgudi constituency as an AIADMK candidate.
Leema Rose, who is the wife of “Lottery King” Santiago Martin, has declared assets exceeding ₹1,049 crore, making her the richest candidate contesting in the 2026 elections.
Financial details from affidavit
As per her election affidavit, Leema Rose reported an income of ₹9.82 crore for the financial year 2024-25. Her family’s financial profile also reflects significant wealth. Her husband Santiago Martin declared an income of ₹11.39 crore, while their son Jose Daison Martin reported ₹19.56 crore during the same period.
A closer look at the asset details shows that Leema Rose owns movable assets worth ₹139.62 crore and immovable assets valued at ₹909.94 crore. Santiago Martin’s assets include ₹3,262.01 crore in movable assets and ₹887.36 crore in immovable assets. Their son, Jose Daison Martin, has movable assets worth ₹225.56 crore and immovable assets valued at ₹439.21 crore.
Background and entry into politics
Leema Rose has studied up to Class VI. Despite her limited formal education, her candidature has sparked curiosity due to her strong financial backing and association with a well-known business family.
Her entry comes at a time when political activity in Tamil Nadu is picking up pace, with parties preparing for an intense electoral battle.
Election schedule and major alliances
Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections is scheduled for April 23, while the results will be declared on May 4. The state is expected to witness a high-voltage contest with multiple alliances competing for power.
The main contest is likely to be between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance, which is led by the AIADMK along with its allies including the BJP and PMK.
At the same time, actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to enter the electoral field with his party, adding a new dimension and possibly turning the election into a three-way contest.
Leaders express confidence
Political leaders have already started expressing confidence as the campaign gains momentum. Union minister Piyush Goyal said, “A superb campaign has started. Tomorrow, all our candidates will be filing nominations and there is a lot of enthusiasm on the ground.”
He further added, “We will certainly defeat anti-Tamil Nadu, anti-India forces of DMK and Congress and NDA will emerge victorious, forming the next government in Tamil Nadu and serving the people with welfare and development.”
A closely watched election
With high-value candidates, strong political alliances, and fresh entrants, the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026 are shaping up to be a closely watched contest. Leema Rose’s entry, backed by significant assets, has added another layer of intrigue, making the race even more interesting for voters and observers alike.
Leema Rose, who is the wife of “Lottery King” Santiago Martin, has declared assets exceeding ₹1,049 crore, making her the richest candidate contesting in the 2026 elections.
Financial details from affidavit
As per her election affidavit, Leema Rose reported an income of ₹9.82 crore for the financial year 2024-25. Her family’s financial profile also reflects significant wealth. Her husband Santiago Martin declared an income of ₹11.39 crore, while their son Jose Daison Martin reported ₹19.56 crore during the same period.A closer look at the asset details shows that Leema Rose owns movable assets worth ₹139.62 crore and immovable assets valued at ₹909.94 crore. Santiago Martin’s assets include ₹3,262.01 crore in movable assets and ₹887.36 crore in immovable assets. Their son, Jose Daison Martin, has movable assets worth ₹225.56 crore and immovable assets valued at ₹439.21 crore.
Background and entry into politics
Leema Rose has studied up to Class VI. Despite her limited formal education, her candidature has sparked curiosity due to her strong financial backing and association with a well-known business family.Her entry comes at a time when political activity in Tamil Nadu is picking up pace, with parties preparing for an intense electoral battle.
Election schedule and major alliances
Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections is scheduled for April 23, while the results will be declared on May 4. The state is expected to witness a high-voltage contest with multiple alliances competing for power. The main contest is likely to be between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance, which is led by the AIADMK along with its allies including the BJP and PMK.
At the same time, actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to enter the electoral field with his party, adding a new dimension and possibly turning the election into a three-way contest.
Leaders express confidence
Political leaders have already started expressing confidence as the campaign gains momentum. Union minister Piyush Goyal said, “A superb campaign has started. Tomorrow, all our candidates will be filing nominations and there is a lot of enthusiasm on the ground.” He further added, “We will certainly defeat anti-Tamil Nadu, anti-India forces of DMK and Congress and NDA will emerge victorious, forming the next government in Tamil Nadu and serving the people with welfare and development.”
A closely watched election
With high-value candidates, strong political alliances, and fresh entrants, the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026 are shaping up to be a closely watched contest. Leema Rose’s entry, backed by significant assets, has added another layer of intrigue, making the race even more interesting for voters and observers alike. Next Story