The average assets of the 184 re-contesting MLAs in Karnataka grew by Rs 17.31 crore, up 64%,  between 2013 and 2018 from Rs 26.92 crore to Rs 44.24 crore, respectively. In fact, five Congress MLAs among these 184 saw their assets grow by over Rs 100 crore in these five years, according to an analysis of their affidavits by Karnataka Election Watch and Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).

Leading the pack is Congress MLA D.K. Shivakumar from Kanakapura, who reported a rise of Rs 588 crore in his assets from Rs 251 crore in 2013 to Rs 840 crore in 2018, followed by N. Nagaraju  Congress MLA from Hosakote whose assets grew by Rs 545 crore from Rs 470 crore in 2013 to Rs 1,015 crore in 2018. The other three re-contesting Congress  MLAs – Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Priya Krishna and D.R. Vishwanath – saw their assets rise by over Rs 100 crore in these five years, the ADR analysis said.

Despite being in the opposition, the average assets of the  49 re-contesting BJP MLA s rose 65% to Rs 17+ crore in 2018 from Rs 10+ crore in 2013. The average assets of H.D. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) also increased from Rs 14+ crore in 2013 to Rs 21+ crore in 2018.

Of the total 184 re-contesting MLAs, 108 are from the Congress, 49 from the BJP, 24 from JD(S), two Independents and one from Namma Congress.

JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy and Congress leader Siddaramaiah have shown a growth in assets while BJP’s B.S. Yeddyurappa has reported a decline. Credit: PTI

The average assets of Congress leader and incumbent chief minister Siddaramaiah grew by Rs 6 crore in five years from Rs 13 crore in 2013 to Rs 20 crore in 2018, while his immediate rival, B.S. Yeddyurappa, the BJP’s CM candidate, has shown a decline of Rs 1 crore in his assets from Rs 5 crore in 2013 to Rs 4 crore in 2018. Siddaramaiah has declared an annual income of Rs 45 lakh while Yeddyurappa has declared his annual income as Rs 12 lakh.

Incidentally, B. Sreeramulu from the mining hub Bellary, whose party merged with the BJP in 2014, has also reported a 50% decline in average assets from Rs 37 crore in 2013 to Rs 18 crore in 2018.

JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy has declared an asset growth of Rs 29 crore, from Rs 137 crore in 2013 to Rs 167 crore in 2018. He has declared an annual income of Rs 1 crore.

According to a recent ADR report, of the total 2,560 candidates in the fray in Karnataka, 883 have declared themselves as crorepatis with the most of these belonging to the BJP. A total of 93% of the BJP’s candidates are crorepatis while Congress, too, has 207 crorepatis among its 207 contenders. The average assets declared by all candidates in the Karnataka election are worth Rs 7.54 crore.