Meghalaya Industries Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, had 607 percent increase in his assets in the last five years.

Dhar is contesting the election to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly as an NPP candidate from Nartiang constituency in West Jaintia hills district.

According to the report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Meghalaya Election Watch, Sniawbhalang Dhar had the highest increase (in comparison to the other MLAs) in his assets in the last five years.

In 2018, Dhar had declared assets of only ₹ 6 crore, and it rose to ₹ 45 crore in 2023, the report said.

The second highest growth in the list is Meghalaya’s Health and Information Minister James PK Sangma, contesting election as an NPP candidate from the Dadenggre constituency in West Garo hills district.

Sangma’s assets increased by 568 percent, from ₹ 7 crore in 2018 to ₹ 53 crore in 2023, the report said.

It was also reported that Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s assets also increased by 164 percent during the last five years.

The CM’s assets increased from ₹ 5.33 crore in 2018 to ₹ 14.06 crore in 2023. He is also the president of NPP.

The assets of leader of opposition Mukul Sangma and his wife DD Shira, also saw an increase of 108 percent. The assets of the couple rose from ₹ 13.59 crore in 2018 to ₹ 28.21 crore in 2023.

Meghalaya assembly speaker Metbah Lyngdoh, has been reported to be the richest candidate to fight the February 27 assembly elections.

Lyngdoh’s assets increased by 68 per cent to ₹ 146.31 crore in the last five years, the report said. He is the President of the United Democratic Party (UDP), and is contesting at Mairang in Eastern West Khasi hills district.

In 2018, Metbah Lyngdoh had declared assets of ₹ 87.26 crore, and it rose to ₹ 146.31 crores in 2023.

The average percentage growth in assets of 61 re-contesting MLAs is 77 per cent, the report said.