Despite CM order, only 57% of Maha Ministers declared assets

Despite Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan directing Ministers in the State to declare their financial assets, only 57 per cent of them have done so, an RTI query has revealed.

After assuming office in December 2010, Chavan had asked his Ministerial colleagues to declare their financial assets and liabilities, a move seen towards bringing greater transparency in the administration. He sent a reminder to the Ministers in 2011.

But so far, only 24 of the 42 Congress-NCP Ministers have given details of their assets, said RTI activist Anil Galgali, who filed the query in this regard with the Government Administrative Department (GAD) last month.

In response to the application, Under Secretary (GAD) and Public Information Officer S G Kedare said of the 42 ministers, 24 had declared their financial assets.

Prominent Ministers missing from the list of those who have declared their assets, included Narayan Rane, R R Patil, Balasaheb Thorat, Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan, Madhukar Pichad, Jitendra Awhad, Nitin Raut and Sachin Ahir, Galgali said today.

Besides Chavan, the Ministers who have submitted details of their assets included Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, Pantangrao Kadam, Shivajirao Moghe, Sunil Tatkare, Varsha Gaikwad, Harshvardhan Patil and Rajendra Mulak, according to the reply.

"The Ministers should declare their assets on moral grounds. They anyway submit affidavit in this regard when they contest elections for becoming MLAs/MLCs. Then why cant they declare their assets when they become Ministers?" he asked.

"Every citizen has the right to know how much is his Ministers' worth," the activist added.