The newly formed BJP government in Gujarat has 90 percent crorepatis ministers and 15 percent has serious criminal cases including arms act case. This fact once again underlined the BJP’s ‘pro-rich and pro-corporate image.

An analysis of the self-sworn affidavits of all 20 ministers including the Chief Minister done by the civil society groups Gujarat Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms revealed that out of the 20 ministers, 18 (90 percent ) are crorepatis and the average assets of 20 ministers is Rs 13.34 crores.

According to the ADR, the minister with the highest declared total assets is Saurabh Yashvantbhai Dalal Patel from Botad constituency with assets worth Rs.123.78 crores. The other two top ministers with highest assets are Parsotambhai Odhavjibhai Solanki (Rs 45crores) and Radadiya Jayeshbhai Vitthalbhai (Rs 28 crores).

 The ADR has done the analysis of criminal background, financial, education, gender and other details of ministers in the Gujarat Assembly 2017.

 Its analysis revealed that 3 (15%) ministers have been facing criminal cases against them but they were made ministers. Bachubhai Khapad is the minister in the newly constituted government in Gujarat who has 3 Criminal Cases registered against him. Out of which one is under the Arms Act.

The ADR also analyzed the ministers’ education and age.

According to it, a total of 9 (45%) ministers have declared their educational qualification to be between 5th and 12th pass while 10(50%) are graduates or have higher degrees and 1 minister has declared his education as ‘Diploma in Electrical Engineering’.  While a total of 3 (15%) ministers have declared their age to be between 31-50 years while 17(85%) ministers have declared their age to be between 51-70 years.