New Delhi: In a surprising revelation, the total assets of the 4001 current lawmakers in the country amount to a staggering ₹54,545 crore. This figure surpasses the combined annual budget of three Northeastern states – Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sikkim – for the financial year 2023-24, which stands at ₹49,103 crore.
Alarming revelations by ADR and NEW
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) recently released a report that analyzed the affidavits of lawmakers from various states and Union Territories. According to the report, the average assets of the 4001 lawmakers from 84 political parties and independent candidates amount to ₹13.63 crore.
BJP leading in overall lawmakers, assets
Meanwhile, the average assets of 1356 lawmakers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stand at ₹11.97 crore, while 719 lawmakers from the Indian National Congress (INC) have average assets of ₹21.97 crore.
The data collected from the pre-election affidavits filed by the lawmakers sheds light on the financial position of the legislators. The report covers a total of 4,001 lawmakers from 28 state legislative assemblies and two Union Territories.
Meanwhile, the total amount of the combined assets of the lawmakers belonging to the BJP and the Congress stands at a staggering Rs 32,032 crore.
Top 10 lawmakers with the highest assets
The report highlights the top 10 lawmakers with the highest assets, and all of them belong to Karnataka. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar tops the list with assets worth over ₹1400 crore, making him the richest legislator in the country. The second and third positions are also held by lawmakers from Karnataka, with independent MLA K.H. Puttaswamy Gouda having assets worth ₹1267 crore, and Congress MLA Priya Krishna having assets worth ₹1156 crore.
A call for transparency, accountability
The vast difference between the assets of lawmakers and the budgets of states raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the political system. It is crucial for citizens to be aware of their elected representatives’ financial standing to ensure fair and responsible governance. As the nation progresses, it is essential to bridge the wealth gap and create a more equitable society.
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