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Congress MLA DK Shivakumar, from Kanakapura assembly in Karnataka, is the second richest MLA in India with wealth over Rs 1,413 crore
Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of current MLAs in state assemblies and Union Territories across the nation. (Photo: X/@ParagShahBJP)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Parag Shah, representative of Ghatkopar East assembly in Maharashtra, is the richest MLA in India with assets close to Rs 3,400 crore, a new report released on Monday shows.
Congress MLA DK Shivakumar, from Kanakapura assembly in Karnataka, is the second richest MLA in India with wealth over Rs 1,413 crore, it added.
Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of current MLAs in state assemblies and Union Territories across the nation.
This data, as per the report, was extracted from affidavits filed by the MLAs prior to contesting their last elections. Out of the total 4,123 MLAs, 4,092 MLAs have been analysed across 28 State Assemblies and three Union Territories.
The affidavits of 24 MLAs have not been analysed as their affidavits were badly scanned or not readable, the report said, adding there are currently seven vacant seats in the state assemblies.
In the list of top 10 richest MLAs, are Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu (Rs 931 crore), and his predecessor YS Jagan Mohan Reddy with wealth worth Rs 757 crore.
In the list of 4,092 MLAs, at the bottom is BJP MLA from West Bengal’s Indus – Nirmal Kumar Dhara with assets worth Rs 1,700.
“Out of the 4,092 MLAs analysed from State Assemblies, 119 (3%) are Billionaires,” the report said, adding that four MLAs have wealth over Rs 1,000 crore and eight MLAs have assets worth between Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore.
With total assets for 223 MLAs at Rs 14,179 crore, Karnataka is the state with the highest total assets of MLAs. It is followed by Maharashtra (Rs 12,424 crore) and Andhra Pradesh (Rs 11,323 crore).
However, when it comes to the average asset of each MLA, the state with the highest average assets per MLA is Andhra Pradesh (174 MLAs) with average assets of Rs 65.07 crore, followed by Karnataka with average assets of Rs 63.58 crore and Maharashtra (286 MLAs) with average assets of Rs 43.44 crore.
On the other hand, the collective assets for 60 MLAs from Tripura is Rs 90 crore and for 59 MLAs from Manipur is Rs 222 crore, making these states with the lowest assets of MLAs.
Tripura is also the state with the lowest average assets of MLAs at Rs 1.51 crore. Next is West Bengal (293 MLAs) with average assets of Rs 2.80 crore and Kerala (134 MLAs) with average assets of Rs 3.13 crore.
“The total assets of 4,092 sitting MLAs are Rs 73,348 crore. This is more than the Rs 72,000 crores combined annual budget (2023-24) of the states of Nagaland (Rs 23,086 crore), Tripura (Rs 26,892 crore) and Meghalaya (Rs 22,022 crore),” the report said.
45% MLAs facing criminal cases
The report also shows that out of the 4,092 MLAs analysed from state assemblies, 1,861 (45%) MLAs have declared criminal cases against themselves.
“A total of 1,205 (29%) MLAs from state assemblies have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women,” it added.
Andhra Pradesh tops the chart in terms of the assembly with the highest share of MLAs facing criminal cases – 138 (79%) out of 174 MLAs. Next is Kerala where 93 (69%) out of 134 MLAs have declared cases against themselves. The other states where over 60% MLAs are facing cases are – Telangana (69% – 82 out of 119 MLAs); Bihar (66% – 158 out of 241 MLAs); and Maharashtra (65% – 187 out of 286 MLAs).
“A total of 54 MLAs have declared cases related to murder (IPC Section-302)… 226 MLAs have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307 and BNS Section-109)… 127 MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women,” the report said.
At least 13 MLAs have declared cases related to rape (IPC Section-376 & Section-376(2)(n)).
The report also shows that the average assets of MLAs with declared criminal cases is Rs 20.97 crores. As compared to this, the average assets of MLAs with no criminal cases is Rs 15.38 crore. The average of assets per MLA from state assemblies is Rs 17.92 crore.
