By TCN News,
Ahmadabad: An analysis by the Gujarat Election Watch lists eight tribals, two Muslims, and one Dalit MLAs as one of the twenty “poorest” newly elected legislators of the Gujarat Assembly.
Rameshbhai Bhurabhai Katara of BJP from Fatepura (ST) constituency with a declared asset worth Rs. 6 Lakh is the poorest MLA of the new assembly followed by Vakil Manisha Rajivbhai of BJP from Vadodara City(SC) constituency with assets worth Rs. 7.12 Lakhs and Pravinbhai Jinabhai Rathod of INC from Palitana constituency with assets worth Rs 7.50 Lakhs.
There are only two Muslim MLAs in the new Assembly and both of them are in this list of the 20 poorest MLAs. Gyasuddin Habibuddin Shaikh from Daripaur with asset of 31 lakhs is at number 13 in this list. Peerzada Javed of Wankaner with asset worth 48 lakhs is at number 20.
Sheikh Mohammed Ghayasuddin
Both Muslim winners are the sitting MLAs and show an increase in their asset since 2007. Gyasuddin Shaikh had a modest increase of 68% in his asset while Peerzada’s increased his asset from a measly 4 lakhs in 2007 to 48 lakhs in 2012, an increase of whopping over 1000%.
Gujarat Election Watch is the Gujarat chapter of National Election Watch – a conglomeration of over 1200 civil society organizations working on political and electoral reforms.
Other highlights of the report:
31% of the newly elected MLAs in the Gujarat State Assembly Elections have declared criminal cases against them.
Average growth in assets for the newly elected MLAs (who also contested in Gujarat 2007 Assembly Elections) is Rs 5.06 crore.
Out of the182 MLAs analyzed for Gujarat Assembly Elections, 57 MLAs or 31% have declared criminal cases against them. In 2007 Assembly elections, 47 MLAs or 26% MLAs declared criminal cases against themselves.
MLAs with serious criminal cases: Out of these 57 MLAs who have declared criminal cases against themselves, 24 MLAs declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
MLAs with Heinous and Violent crimes cases: The top three candidates from major parties who have declared serious criminal cases of murder, kidnapping and theft against them are: (1) Vasava Chhotubhai Amarsinh of JD (U) from Jhagadia (ST) constituency who has declared 9 charges related to dacoity, 7 charges related to theft and 3 charges related to murder. (2) Amit Anil Chandra Shah (of BJP from Naranpura constituency) has declared 2 charges related to murder and 2 charges related to kidnapping.(3) Chaudhary Shankarbhai Lagdhirbhai (of BJP from Vav constituency) has declared 3 charges related to murder and 3 charges related to attempt to murder.(4) Jethabhai G. Ahir (of BJP from Shehra constituency) has declared 1 charge related to rape and 1 charge related to kidnapping. (5) Barad Jashubhai Dhanabhai (of INC from Talala constituency) has declared 1 charge related to attempt to murder.
MLA with rape charges: 1 MLA has declared charges of rape against himself. He is Jethabhai G. Ahir of BJP from Shehra constituency.
MLAs against whom charges have been framed: Out of the 57 MLAs who have declared criminal cases against themselves, charges have been framed against 35 MLAs for various crimes.
A total of 134 out of 182 MLAs i.e. 74% are crorepatis. In 2007, there were 31% crorepati MLAs.
The MLAs with maximum assets in 2012 Gujarat Assembly are Balvantsinh Chandansinh Rajput of INC from Sidhpur constituency who has declared the highest assets worth Rs 268 Crore, followed by Rajguru Indranil Sanjaybhai of INC from Rajkot East who has declared assets worth Rs 122 Crore and Chavada Javaharbhai Pethalajibhai of INC from Manavadar constituency with assets worth Rs 82.90 Crore.
3 MLAs have declared assets of less than Rs 10 lakh.
Lowest Assets MLAs: Rameshbhai Bhurabhai Katara of BJP from Fatepura (SC) constituency has declared the lowest assets of Rs. 6 Lakhs, Vakil Manisha Rajivbhaiof BJP from Vadodra City(SC) constituency has declared assets of Rs. 7.12 Lakhs and Rathod Pravinbhai Jinabhai of INC from Palitana constituency has declared assets worth Rs. 7.50 Lakhs.
MLAs with Highest Liabilities: A total of 28 (15%) MLAs out of 182 analyzed declared liabilities of Rs. 1 crore or above.
The top three MLAs who have declared the highest liabilities are Balvantsinh Chandansinh Rajput, of INC from Sidhpur who has declared liabilities worth Rs. 52.33 Crores followed by Rajguru Indranil Sanjaybhai of INC from Rajkot East constituency with liabilities worth Rs. 27.14 Crores and Manibhai J. Vaghela an INC MLA from Vadgam (SC)constituency with liabilities worth Rs. 13.98 Crores. From BJP the highest liabilities have been declared by Patel Dineshbhai Balubhai from Padra constituency with liabilities worth Rs 11.53 crores.
Among major parties, the average asset per MLA for INC is 12.36 Crore, for BJP is 5.82 Crore, for NCP is 15.61 crores, for JD (U) is 2.70 Crores and for GPP is 1.52 Crores.
5 out of 182 MLAs have not declared their PAN details in the 2012 Gujarat Assembly Elections. In 2007 Assembly elections 54 MLAs had not declared their PAN details.
MLAs who have declared Highest Income in ITR: Solanki Hirabhai Odhavjibhai of BJP from Rajula constituency has declared an income of Rs 3.41 Crore, followed by Pabubha Virambha Manek of BJP from Dwarka constituency with an income of Rs 3.25 Crore and Radadia Jayeshbhai Vithalbhai of INC from Jetpur constituency with an income of 2.53 Crore.
Educational Background of MLAs: 45% MLAs (82 of 182 analyzed) have a graduate or a higher qualification in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly of 2012.
Women Representation: Out of 182 newly elected MLAs in Gujarat Assembly Elections 2012, only 16 (9%) MLAs are women. In 2007 Assembly Elections also there were 16(9%) women MLAs.
Age of MLAs: A total of 43 MLAs out of the total 182, are more than 61 years of age.
Highlights of the report on Asset Comparison of Newly Elected MLAs who also contested in Gujarat 2007 Assembly Elections.
Number of recontesting MLAs who have been analyzed for Gujarat 2012 Assembly elections and whose complete affidavits were also available for 2007 assembly elections – 99
The average assets of these MLAs, as declared in 2007 is Rs 2,20,83,181 (2.20 crore)
The average assets of these MLAs, as declared in 2012 is Rs 7,27,68,176 (7.27 crore)
The average growth in assets for these re-contesting MLAs is Rs 5,06,84,994 (Rs 5.06 crore)
Average percentage growth in assets for these re-contesting MLAs is 230%
The maximum growth in assets has been for Chavada Javaharbhai Pethalajibhai of INC from Manvadar constituency with increase of Rs 64.57 crore i.e from Rs. 18.32 crores in 2007 to Rs. 82.90 crores in 2012. Assets of Patel Dineshbhai Balubhai (of BJP from Padra constituency) have increased by Rs 34.89 crore, from Rs 4.51 crore in 2007 to Rs 39.41 crore in 2012. Assets of Aacharya Dr.Nimaben Bhavesbhai (of BJP from Bhuj) have risen by Rs 32.27 crore, from Rs 2.37 crore in 2007 to Rs 34.64 crore in 2012.
Kavadiya Jayantibhai Ramjibhai a BJP MLA from Dhrangadhra constituency has declared the highest percentage increase in assets of 5525%, from Rs 10.50 lakh in 2007 to Rs 5.91 crore in 2012. Panada Vajesingbhai Parsingbhai an INC MLA from DAHOD (ST) has shown a percentage increase in assets of 3784%, from Rs 4.40 lakh in 2007 to Rs 1.70 crore in 2012. Parmar Shailesh Manharbhai an INC MLA from DANILIMDA (SC) has shown his assets go up by 2944%, from Rs 96.15 lakhs in 2007 to Rs 29.26 crores in 2012.
2 MLAs have reported decrease in assets in 2012 as compared to value of assets in 2007. They are Dalal Patel Saurabh Yashayantbhai (13% reduction in assets, from Rs 65.29 crore in 2007 election to Rs 56.60 crore in 2012) of BJP from Akota constituency, and Govindbhai Ukabhai Patel (4% decrease in assets, from Rs 1.48 crore in 2007 to 1.43 crore in 2012).