In 5 years, Cong MLAs only grew richer

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 24

Despite being out of power for the past 10 years, the assets of Congress MLAs increased at a rapid pace in the past five years.

Among top five MLAs, whose assets witnessed maximum increase, four are from the Congress and only Bikram Singh Majithia of SAD features among the top five.

According to the report released here by two NGOs, Association for Democratic Reforms and Punjab Election Watch, in the past five years, assets of Congress MLAs increased by 35.64 per cent and Shiromani Akali Dal candidates by 17.26 per cent.

The NGOs have analysed the affidavits of 94 MLAs from various political parties and Independent candidates, who are again contesting the 2017 Assembly elections.

The average assets of these 94 MLAs were 10.81 crore in 2012. However, in 2017 the average assets of these MLAs increased to Rs 13.79 crore. It means in five years, it increased by 28 per cent.

In party-wise breakup, Congress MLAs top the chart, when it comes to increase in their wealth. Average assets of 41 Congress MLAs in 2012 were Rs 13 crore, but with 35.64 per cent increase, average assets of Congress MLA became Rs 18 crore in 2017.

Similarly, average assets of 41 SAD candidates increased from Rs 13 crore to Rs 18 crore and thus witnessed a rise of 17.26 per cent in five years. Even assets of Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjeet Singh Bains of the Lok Insaaf Party witnessed increase of 43 per cent.

“Looking at the asset status of Congress MLAs one can easily see that instead of playing role in the opposition, they were busy in accumulating wealth,” said Jaskirat Singh, state coordinator of Punjab Election Watch.

The BJP MLAs’ wealth witnessed a negligible increase of just 0.44 per cent. Besides, among 94 MLAs who are contesting again this time, there are 19 MLAs whose wealth witnessed a decrease in the past five years. There are total 55 MLAs — contesting again — whose assets added assets of Rs 1 crore in five years.