Bengaluru:Elected representatives of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly are growing richer every five years. Karnataka Election Watch (KEW) and Democratic Reforms, after analysing the average assets of 175 MLAs who are contesting the polls again, have found that between 2008 when the last assembly polls were held and 2013, the average growth in assets is a whopping Rs 9.27 crore!
The KEW released figures on the assets of each MLA of all three major parties in the state. The average assets of the 179 MLAs fielded by the three parties in 2008 was Rs 10.59 crore. The average assets declared by these MLAs in 2013 was Rs. 19.87 crore—a jump of Rs 9.27 crore. In percentage terms, the growth in assets of the 179 MLAs was 88%.
For example, between 2008 and 2013, the assets of Congress candidate from Kanakapura D.K. Shivakumar increased by Rs 175.91 crore. Mr. Shivakumar has declared Rs. 75.59 crore assets in 2008 and has now declared Rs. 251.50 crore assets.
The assets of Congress candidate from Govindrajanagar, Priya Krishna have increased by Rs 143.36 crore. He declared assets of Rs 767.61 core in 2008 and declared assets worth Rs 910.98 crore in 2013. The wealth of another Congress candidate Santhosh Lad from Kalaghatagi, has increased by Rs 124.85 crore.
The candidate who registered the highest percentage growth is Congress candidate(Bantwal) Ramanath Rai followed by sports minister Appachu Ranjan.
Declining assets
Interestingly, the assets of eight MLAs including higher education minister C.T. Ravi decreased in five years. Mr Ravi had declared assets of Rs 7.85 crore in 2008 and has now declared wealth worth Rs 3.59 crore.
Posting a depreciation
The assets of B.K. Sangameshwar, the Congress rebel candidate from Bhadravati was Rs. 5.83 crore in 2008 while in 2013, he declared assets worth Rs 1.66 crore.
