Huge hike in assets of 41 Odisha legislators

The average assets of 41 members of the outgoing Odisha assembly who are again fighting the state polls have increased by 137 per cent in the last five years, an election watchdog said Monday.

The average assets of these legislators fielded again by different parties was Rs.98.20 lakh in the 2009 election. Now, in 2014, they stand at about Rs.2.35 crore, Ranjan Mohanty, state coordinator of Election Watch, told IANS.

The average asset growth in five years for these legislators is Rs.1.34 crore, he said.

"The percentage of growth in the last five years in asset value for these legislators is 137 per cent," Mohanty said.

Former minister and ruling Biju Janata Dal candidate Anang Uday Singhdeo who is seeking election from Bolangir tops the list, with his assets increasing a whopping 257 per cent.

Singhdeo had Rs.3 crore plus worth assets in 2009 which have now gone up to Rs.11 crore plus, Mohanty said.

Election Watch based its information on scrutiny of affidavits filed by the candidates with the Election Commission, he said.

Polling for the state's 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats will be held simultaneously April 10 and 17.

Balloting for 10 parliamentary and 70 assembly constituencies will be held in the first phase.