BETTIAH, Nov. 2 -- Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) nominee for the Narkatiaganj seat, Deepak Yadav, managing director of Bagaha-based Tirupati Sugars Limited; Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) candidate Rankaushal Pratap Singh, director of Patna-based real estate firm Shree Vasi Homes, contesting from the Lauriya Assembly seat; and RJD's Deva Gupta and Congress' Gappu Rai in the Champaran region have one thing in common. Claiming to be practitioners of simple lifestyles despite their huge wealth in their possession, the Mahagathbandhan's candidates are on campaign trails, promising the economic development of the region. Maintaining his distinct identity amid enormous wealth, Rankaushal Pratap Singh alias Guddu Singh, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) candidate from Lauriya Assembly seat in West Champaran, comes across as a typical Bihari politician - chewing paan and betel nuts at first glance. The traits of a street-smart and witty leader are clearly evident in him. However, Singh happens to be the owner of assets worth Rs.373 crore, including cash, immovable properties, and a fleet of luxury SUVs such as Toyota Fortuners, an Audi, and a Toyota Innova. "Would you believe, I don't wear a wristwatch, belt or branded clothes?" says the Mahagathbandhan candidate from Lauriya, who hails from Nalanda district. "My mother still cooks meals, and so does my wife. We come from a humble background and have risen to riches purely through our grit, determination, and hard work," adds Singh, who prefers to dress in a kurta and local jeans. While he claims to have retained simplicity, Singh admits that his lifestyle has evolved with growing wealth. "Yes, I've tried to provide the best for my family - from education to comfort. I bought a Hyundai Creta for my wife Saloni Singh, while my daughters Srija Singh (Class 9) and Riddhi Singh (Class 5) use an Audi car and a Tata Nexon, respectively," says Singh, who is contesting from Lauriya for the third consecutive time. One of the richest candidates in the electoral field of Bihar, Singh is on a hectic campaign trail, promising to ensure the economic development of the region and to rescue it from what he calls "two decades of retarded growth, decision paralysis, and Officer Raj under Nitish rule." Having toured nearly 90 per cent of the villages in his constituency, he says: "Look, I'm a builder - a real estate developer - and I have a design to make our home (read constituency) a comfortable one for all. What I need is your trust. Believe me, I don't want to become an MLA for ornamental reasons. I already have means; I want to bring change to your lives. Contractors will not call the shots." Singh, director of Shree Vasi Homes Pvt. Ltd, a Patna-based real estate company, had contested the Assembly elections in 2015 and 2020, but both times lost to BJP's Vinay Bihari from Lauriya. Clad in kurta-pyjama with a green gamchha draped over his shoulder, 48-year-old Deepak Yadav, managing director of Bagaha-based Tirupati Sugars Limited, presents the image of a typical RJD leader. "I have spent years running a sugar mill in Bagaha and understand why the dream of industrialisation remains neglected in Bihar," says Yadav, a former Cabinet minister in the Uttar Pradesh government. "Industrialisation cannot happen as long as Officer Raj continues under the current regime." He adds, "A respite from Nitish Raj will mark the beginning of industrialisation and economic growth in the state." Yadav, who had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as a BSP candidate and later joined the RJD, possesses assets worth Rs.89 crore. The other wealthy candidates - Gappu Rai of Congress, with declared assets of Rs.19 crore, contesting from Govindganj, and Deva Gupta of RJD, with assets of Rs.4.5 crore, contesting from Motihari - are also among the richest nominees of the Mahagathbandhan in the Champaran region. Despite their affluence, all these candidates claim to lead simple lifestyles and promise economic development as their top priority if elected....