Over 200 MLAs in new Karnataka assembly are crorepatis

Bangalore, May 10: The average asset per MLA in the 2013

Assembly elections is Rs 23.54 crore, a nearly 135 per cent increase compared to the previous 2008 poll, when it was Rs 10.02 crore, according to an NGO.

Karnataka Election Watch(KEW) also said on Friday that 93 per cent or 203 MLAs of the total 218 analysed are crorepatis. In 2008, 63 per cent MLAs were crorepatis.

KEW said it analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 218 out of the 223 newly elected MLAs.

It said 92 re-elected MLAs have been analysed. Their average asset in 2008 was Rs 17.53 crore, which has gone up to Rs 30.15 crore, a growth of 72 per cent.

The maximum growth in assets in the last five years has been for D K Shivakumar (Congress), who has declared an increase of Rs 175.9 crore -- from Rs 75.5 crore in 2008 to Rs 251 crore in 2013. Assets of Priyakrishna (Congress) has increased by Rs 143.36 crore -- from Rs 767.6 crore to Rs 910.9 crore and that of Santhosh Lad (Congress) by Rs 124.8 crore -- from Rs 61.5 crore to Rs 186.4 crore.

KEW said 34 per cent or 74 of the 218 MLAs analysed have declared criminal cases against them, compared to 20 per cent five years ago.

Out of these 74 MLAs, 39 have declared serious criminal cases like attempt to murder, kidnapping, dacoity, assault against women etc. Five MLAs have declared that they have murder-related cases against them. 11 MLAs have declared that they have been charged under Prevention of Corruption Act.

Out of 218 MLAs, five (two per cent) are women in the new Karnataka Assembly, compared to three in 2008.

PTI