Rajasthan Assembly Polls 2018: Average assets of re-contesting MLAs increased by Rs 2.69 crore

The average assets of Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) re-contesting in the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections increased by Rs 2.69 crore, according to a report by Rajasthan Election Watch (REW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

This is a growth of 37 percent of average assets of re-contesting MLAs.

Average assets of re-contesting MLAs in 2018 is Rs 9.93 crore as against average assets of Rs 7.24 crore for re-contesting MLAs in 2013.

The report analyses 137 out of 143 MLAs who are re-contesting in the state polls on the basis of disclosures made in their election affidavit. The report does not analyse six MLAs as their either 2013 or 2018 affidavits were poorly scanned.

Also read: Major issues that will influence the election this year

Out of those analysed, a total of 99 MLAs are re-contesting from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As many as 25 MLAs are re-contesting from the Congress. There are two MLAs re-contesting from Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Re-contesting MLAs from the incumbent BJP saw average assets increase of Rs 2.43 crore or 44.36 percent.

MLAs re-contesting on a Congress ticket saw average assets increase Rs 1.58 crore or 18.9 percent.

However, MLAs re-contesting on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) tickets saw average decrease in their assets by Rs 3.03 crore. That is a 31 percent decrease in their assets.

Also read: Key factors that influence voting behaviour in the state

Around 8 percent of the total candidates contesting the election this time have Rs 5 crore or higher value of assets. Around 10 percent have declared assets between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore. As many as 21 percent candidates have declared assets between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 2 crore. About 34 percent have declared their assets to be under Rs 10 lakh.

With 81 percent, BJP has the highest crorepati candidates followed by Congress with 77 percent. As many as 35 percent of Hanuman Beniwal‘s Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) candidates are crorepatis and 22 percent of BSP’s candidates are crorepatis.

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