Average assets of Karnataka MLAs up by nearly Rs 10 cr

Bangalore: The average assets of MLAs, who are recontesting the Karnataka assembly elections on 5 May, have nearly doubled and have risen by about Rs 10 crore as compared to five years ago, according to two NGOs tracking the trend. Based on candidates’ affidavit filed with their nomination papers, Karnataka Election Watch (KEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms analysed 179 outgoing MLAs who are standing for elections again.  The average asset of these 179 re-contesting MLAs fielded by various parties in 2008 was Rs 10.59 crore, which has now increased to Rs 19.87 crore, up Rs 9.27 crore in the past five years, or a growth of 88 percent. DK Shivakumar of the Congress from Kanakapura segment has declared maximum increase in assets with an increase of Rs 175.91 crore – from Rs 75.59 crore in 2008 to Rs 251.50 crore in 2013. Assets of Priya Krishna (Congress-Govindrajanagar) increased by Rs 143.36 crore, from Rs 767.61 crore in 2008 to Rs 910.98 crore in 2013, and that of Santhosh Lad (Congress-Kalaghatgi) from Rs 61.54 crore to Rs 186.40 crore. Eight MLAs have reported decrease in assets in 2013 as compared to the value of their assets five years ago. Among them the highest decrease has been shown by B K Sangameshwara (72 percent decline in assets; Rs 5.38 crore in 2008 to Rs 1.66 crore in 2013). (Incidentally, the Congress has denied ticket to Sangameshwara, who is now seeking re-election from Bhadravati as an independent). He is followed by Higher Education Minister CT Ravi (BJP-Chikmagalur) (54 percent reduction in assets, from Rs 7.85 crore in 2008 to Rs 3.59 crore in 2013). The highest percentage increase (210.51 percent) in assets has been declared by Ramanatha Rai of Congress from Bantwal.His assets increased from Rs 1.71 lakh to Rs 3.62 crore,according to the NGOs. Sports Minister Appachu Ranjan (Madikeri) came second, declaring an increase in assets of 57.52 percent, from Rs 18.20 lakh to Rs 10.65 crore in 2013 (He did not provide Rupee value for six motor vehicles, jewellery and immovable assets), as per the analysis by the NGOs. PTI