Assets of 165 re-elected MPs doubled in five years: ADR study

The average assets of MPs re-elected to the 16th Lok Sabha have almost doubled in the last five years, a study has found.

Association for Democratic Reforms analysed the affidavits of 165 of the total 168 re-elected MPs, as three of them were "unclear/incomplete" as posted on the Election Commission's website, and found that the average assets of these MPs fielded by various parties were Rs.5.38 crore in 2009 but have risen to Rs.12.78 crore in 2014.

Re-elected MPs of the Shiromani Akali Dal saw the maximum rise in their assets, which grew from Rs.31.75 crore to Rs.58.88 crore. MPs of the Communist Party of India-Marxist were ones whose assests grew the least, from Rs.0.7 crore to Rs.0.78 crore.

Shatrughan Sinha of the Bharatiya Janata Party topped the list with his assets growing from Rs.15 crore in 2009 to Rs.131.74 crore. He was followed by Pinaki Mishra of the Biju Janata Dal and Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party.

ADR also analysed the rise in criminal cases as declared by these re-elected MPs.

Of the 165 re-elected MPs, 71 declared criminal charges against them and 13 of them showed an increase in such charges in their affidavits. Twentyone MPs who had no criminal charge against them in 2009 have disclosed such charges in 2014, while nine MPs who declared criminal charges in 2009 showed no increase in 2014.

Ramashankar Katheria of the BJP, who declared no criminal cases in 2009, showed the maximum increase in 2014 by announcing 21 criminal charges.

Raju Shetty of Swabhimani Paksha, who won from Hatkanangle constituency in Maharashtra, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress MP from Baharampur in West Bengal, showed an increase of 12 criminal charges aagainst them in the last five years.