Story in Numbers: The perks of being a minister in UP

Everyone is agog at the crisis in the SP family, where the only profession is politics

Everyone is agog at the crisis in the Samajwadi Party (SP) family, where the only profession is politics. The per capita political power the extended family enjoys is comparable only to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu. It is no surprise, therefore, that all branches of the family should be expending so much effort and money to retain power. Not only for themselves but for their colleagues.

Being in the government is important. How important is clear from the profile of the 48 Cabinet ministers during the five-year rule of the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP government. The data show political power is necessary because without that, the danger of going to jail on criminal charges is a clear, ever present danger. 

Ministers in the UP government are not poor, judging by the average assets declared by them. But, in most cases, immovable assets far exceed movable ones, suggesting most have more landed property than income.

Uttar Pradesh: Analysis of ministers (2012-2017)

48 Number of Cabinet ministers analysed

26 Ministers have declared criminal cases

54% of ministers with criminal cases

9 Ministers have declared serious criminal charges

19% of ministers have declared serious criminal charges

38 crorepati ministers

79% cabinet ministers are crorepatis