New Delhi: The salary of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) has undergone staggering hikes in recent times, but the wealth gap among them is wide and diverse across different states. A recent report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) sheds light on the varied fortunes of Indian MLAs, with Telangana and Delhi leading in providing the highest salaries while Tripura offers the lowest.
DK Shivakumar’s staggering assets worth Rs 1400 crore
Topping the charts is the astounding wealth of Congress MLA DK Shivakumar, who represents the Kanakapura Assembly constituency and serves as the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. His declared assets are worth a staggering Rs 1,413 crore, making him the richest MLA in the country.
The wealthy trio: Gowda, Krishna and Reddy
Following closely behind Shivakumar are the independent MLA KH Puttaswamy Gowda and Congress MLA Priya Krishna, with assets worth Rs 1,267 crore and Rs 1,156 crore, respectively. Notably, four of the top seven richest MLAs belong to the Congress, while three hail from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), fueling a fierce exchange of words between the two political rivals.
BJP’s struggling MLA: Nirmal Kumar Dhara
On the flip side, the list also includes the plight of BJP MLA Nirmal Kumar Dhara from West Bengal’s Indus constituency, who possesses assets worth a mere Rs 1700, placing him at the bottom of the wealth spectrum among MLAs.
The bottom three MLAs
Joining Dhara at the bottom of the list are Odisha’s Independent MLA Makaranda Muduli with assets worth Rs 15,000 and Punjab’s AAP legislator Narinder Pal Singh Sawna, owning assets valued at Rs 18,370.
State-wise distribution of wealthy MLAs
Karnataka emerges as the leader in the roster of wealthy MLAs, boasting a total of 12 legislators on the list. Arunachal Pradesh secures the second spot with four MLAs featured in the list.
A wealth gap stirring political turmoil
The contrasting fortunes of MLAs have sparked heated debates between the Congress and BJP. While Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad has accused BJP legislators of corruption, the BJP has retaliated, claiming the grand old party’s affinity for the wealthy.
A story of diverse fortunes
As the legislative halls of India witness MLAs with fortunes ranging from billions to meager thousands, it’s clear that the wealth gap is a defining factor in the political landscape. Amid the controversies and heated exchanges, the stark contrast in assets among the elected representatives showcases the diversity of India’s political arena.
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