Lawmakers who are re-contesting in the Karnataka Assembly elections have increased their assets by a whopping 64 per cent, an analysis of the Karnataka Election Watch (KEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) shows.
This is significant when corruption charges and criminal cases filed against candidates of the rival political party have been major issues for both the BJP and the Congress in the Karnataka Assembly elections this time. This is also ironic considering the suicide of farmers has been a major election issue too.
The KEW and ADR figures show that average assets of the 184 lawmakers who are re-contesting this elections, have increased by 64 per cent: while this was Rs 26.92 crore in 2013 (of various political parties, including independent candidates), this year the lawmakers re-contesting elections have assets worth Rs 44.24 crore. This is an increase of Rs. 17.31 crore, a 64 per cent increase from 2013.
The average increase of assets has been 66 per cent for Congress candidates, 65 per cent for BJP candidates, 49 per cent for JD(S), 19 per cent for Independent and 7 per cent for Namma Congress candidates.
DK Shivakumar, Congress lawmaker from Kanakapura, has increased his assets by Rs 588 crore during the last five years, a 234 per cent increase from 2013 when he contested from the same constituency. N Nagaraju (M.T.B), also Congress lawmaker, increased his assets by Rs 545 crore, a 116 per cent increase from 2013. Nagaraju is candidate from Hosakote constituency. His total assets are worth Rs 1050 crore, and he is the second-richest candidate among all contesting candidates in Karnataka this year.
But Priyakrishna, Congress lawmaker who is the richest among all candidates this time – his assets valued at Rs 1,020 crore – has increased his assets by 12 per cent since 2013 Assembly elections. His assets were Rs valued at 910 crore in 2013.
Earlier, the KEW and ADR’s analysis showed that among 2,560 out of 2,655 candidates who filed for nominations this year, 15% — 391 of them – are candidates with criminal cases and 10% — 254 of them – are with serious criminal cases. The findings are based on the declared affidavits of the candidates.
