74% Gujarat MLAs crorepati, up from earlier 31%

Ahmedabad, 24 December 2012

In the new assembly in Gujarat, 74 per cent, that is a total of 134 out of the 182 MLAs are crorepatis, as against 31 per cent in the previous assembly that was formed in 2007. Out of the 115 BJP MLAs elected to the 13th assembly 86 of them, that is 75 per cent, are crorepatis. While for the Congress the figure is 43 out of 61 elected, that is 70 per cent.

The average assets of Congress MLAs is Rs 12.36 crore, while that of BJP MLAs is Rs 5.82 crore followed by NCP (2 MLAs) with Rs 15.61 crore, JDU (1 MLA) Rs 2.70 crore and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) (2 MLA) Rs 1.52 crore.

The MLA with maximum declared assets was Balvansinh Rajput of Congress from Siddhpur in Patan district. His had declared assets worth Rs 268 crore, followed by Indranil Rajguru of Congress from Rajkot East with assets of Rs 122 crore and Jawahar Chavda also a Congress MLA, from Manavadar, with assets of Rs 82.90 crore.

According to Jagdeep Chhokar, founder member of NEW, “higher the assets, the more are the chances of winning for a MLA.” He said that in Gujarat 2012 assembly election, 51 per cent MLAs who declared assets more than Rs 5 crore and above have won. “On the other hand, only 1% of MLAs with assets less than Rs 20 lakh could win,” Chhokar, former director of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) added.

The analysis by GEW has been done on basis of the affidavits filed by the candidates before the Election Commission of India.

It has also analysed affidavits of 99 MLAs who contested in 2007 as well as in 2012. Average growth in assets of these MLAs was Rs 5.06 crore or an average increase of 230 per cent. While out of the 99 MLAs whose affidavits are comparable, 65 are from BJP with average increase in assets at 177% while for the Congress the increase was 412%.

The highest growth of assets in actual terms was of Congress MLA Jawahar Chavda from Manavadar. His assets has witnessed increase of Rs 64.57 crore (from Rs 18.32 crore in 2007 to Rs 82.90 crore in 2012). In terms of percentage increase, BJP MLA from Dhrangadhra Jayanti Kavadiya’s assets went from Rs 10.50 lakh in 2007 to Rs 5.91 crore in 2012. This comes to increase of 5525%.

Highlights of the report on Asset Comparison of Newly Elected MLAs who also contested in Gujarat 2007 Assembly Elections

· Number of recontesting MLAs who have been analyzed for Gujarat 2012 Assembly elections and whose complete affidavits were also available for 2007 assembly elections – 99

· The average assets of these MLAs, as declared in 2007 is Rs 2,20,83,181 (2.20 crore)

· The average assets of these MLAs, as declared in 2012 is Rs 7,27,68,176 (7.27 crore)

· The average growth in assets for these re-contesting MLAs is Rs 5,06,84,994 (Rs 5.06 crore)

· Average percentage growth in assets for these re-contesting MLAs is 230%

· The maximum growth in assets has been for Chavada Javaharbhai Pethalajibhai of INC from Manvadar constituency with increase of Rs 64.57 crore i.e from Rs. 18.32 crores in 2007 to Rs. 82.90 crores in 2012. Assets of Patel Dineshbhai Balubhai (of BJP from Padra constituency) have increased by Rs 34.89 crore, from Rs 4.51 crore in 2007 to Rs 39.41 crore in 2012. Assets of Aacharya Dr.Nimaben Bhavesbhai (of BJP from Bhuj) have risen by Rs 32.27 crore, from Rs 2.37 crore in 2007 to Rs 34.64 crore in 2012.

· Kavadiya Jayantibhai Ramjibhai a BJP MLA from Dhrangadhra constituency has declared the highest percentage increase in assets of 5525%, from Rs 10.50 lakh in 2007 to Rs 5.91 crore in 2012. Panada Vajesingbhai Parsingbhai an INC MLA from DAHOD (ST) has shown a percentage increase in assets of 3784%, from Rs 4.40 lakh in 2007 to Rs 1.70 crore in 2012. Parmar Shailesh Manharbhai an INC MLA from DANILIMDA (SC) has shown his assets go up by 2944%, from Rs 96.15 lakhs in 2007 to Rs 29.26 crores in 2012.

· 2 MLAs have reported decrease in assets in 2012 as compared to value of assets in 2007. They are Dalal Patel Saurabh Yashayantbhai (13% reduction in assets, from Rs 65.29 crore in 2007 election to Rs 56.60 crore in 2012) of BJP from Akota constituency, and Govindbhai Ukabhai Patel (4% decrease in assets, from Rs 1.48 crore in 2007 to 1.43 crore in 2012)

· A total of 134 out of 182 MLAs i.e. 74% are crorepatis. In 2007, there were 31% crorepati MLAs.

· The MLAs with maximum assets in 2012 Gujarat Assembly are Balvantsinh Chandansinh Rajput of INC from Sidhpur constituency who has declared the highest assets worth Rs 268 Crore, followed by Rajguru Indranil Sanjaybhai of INC from Rajkot East who has declared assets worth Rs 122 Crore and Chavada Javaharbhai Pethalajibhai of INC from Manavadar constituency with assets worth Rs 82.90 Crore.

· 3 MLAs have declared assets of less than Rs 10 lakh

· Lowest Assets MLAs: Rameshbhai Bhurabhai Katara of BJP from Fatepura (SC) constituency has declared the lowest assets of Rs. 6 Lakhs, Vakil Manisha Rajivbhai of BJP from Vadodra City(SC) constituency has declared assets of Rs. 7.12 Lakhs and Rathod Pravinbhai Jinabhai of INC from Palitana constituency has declared assets worth Rs. 7.50 Lakhs.

· MLAs with Highest Liabilities: A total of 28 (15%) MLAs out of 182 analyzed declared liabilities of Rs. 1 crore or above.

· The top three MLAs who have declared the highest liabilities are Balvantsinh Chandansinh Rajput, of INC from Sidhpur who has declared liabilities worth Rs. 52.33 Crores followed by Rajguru Indranil Sanjaybhai of INC from Rajkot East constituency with liabilities worth Rs. 27.14 Crores and Manibhai J. Vaghela an INC MLA from Vadgam (SC)constituency with liabilities worth Rs. 13.98 Crores. From BJP the highest liabilities have been declared by Patel Dineshbhai Balubhai from Padra constituency with liabilities worth Rs 11.53 crores.

Among major parties, the average asset per MLA for INC is 12.36 Crore, for BJP is 5.82 Crore, for NCP is 15.61 crores, for JD (U) is 2.70 Crores and for GPP is 1.52 Crores.

· 5 out of 182 MLAs have not declared their PAN details in the 2012 Gujarat Assembly Elections. In 2007 Assembly elections 54 MLAs had not declared their PAN details.

· MLAs who have declared Highest Income in ITR: Solanki Hirabhai Odhavjibhai of BJP from Rajula constituency has declared an income of Rs 3.41 Crore, followed by Pabubha Virambha Manek of BJP from Dwarka constituency with an income of Rs 3.25 Crore and Radadia Jayeshbhai Vithalbhai of INC from Jetpur constituency with an income of 2.53 Crore.

· Out of 182 MLAs, 31 MLAs (17%) have not filed ITR

· High Assets no ITR: Among them, Kandhalbhai Sarmanbhai Jadeja of NCP has the highest assets of approximately 28.29 crores, followed by Vitthalbhai Hansrajbhai Radadia of INC from Dhoraji constituency who has declared assets worth Rs 5.62 Crore and Dilipkumar Virajibhai Radadia of BJP from Charasma constituency who has declared assets worth Rs 4.73 Crore.

Full document here