GUWAHATI:
In a startling revelation, the total assets of 4001 sitting MLAs from across the country have left the combined annual budget of Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sikkim in the dust. A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch (NEW), unveiled on August 1, sheds light on this eye-opening contrast.
The whopping total assets of these 4001 MLAs have soared to a staggering Rs 54,545 crore, while the combined annual budget of Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sikkim for 2023-24 stands at a mere Rs 49,103 crore. It’s a remarkable Rs 5,442 crore difference between the two figures.
Delving deeper, the report further reveals the individual budgets of these Northeastern states – Nagaland’s annual budget for 2023-24 is Rs 23,086 crore, followed by Mizoram at Rs 14,210 crore, and Sikkim at Rs 11,807 crore.
The report drew data from self-sworn affidavits of the sitting MLAs across various State Assemblies and Union Territories. It comprehensively analysed 4001 MLAs out of the total 4,033, representing a diverse array of 84 political parties and Independent MLAs, spanning 28 State Assemblies and two Union Territories.
Among the major parties, the average assets per MLA for 1,356 BJP MLAs analyzed amount to Rs 11.97 crore, for 719 Congress MLAs it’s Rs 21.97 crore, for 227 TMC MLAs it’s Rs 3.51 crore, for 161 AAP MLAs it’s Rs 10.20 crore, and 146 YSRCP MLAs boast an average of Rs.23.14 crore.
Moreover, the report also showcases intriguing numbers for individual states. For instance, the total assets of 59 MLAs analyzed from Tripura amount to Rs 90 crore, 40 MLAs from Mizoram hold assets worth Rs 190 crore, and 60 MLAs from Manipur command total assets worth Rs 225 crore.
These findings underscore the colossal financial standing of our country’s sitting MLAs, surpassing the combined budgets of entire states. It sheds light on a stark contrast between the wealth of elected representatives and the fiscal resources available to the states they serve.
