Indra’s Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

A few more lessons from Election 2004

Posted : June 28, 2004 at 6:56 pm [IST]

Election 2004 was an eye opener. The perception about the politicians became clearer. As it became mandatory, the candidates had to provide affidavits about their educational qualification, criminal records, and assets. Truth about the affidavits is not verified before the admission of their candidatures. But even at later stage, people can go to court if they have proofs of false declarations and the election can be countermanded. But it hardly happens. However, the affidavits do not include their declaration about their working experiences. So it becomes difficult to evaluate their real worth. In my opinion, the candidate must provide in brief the type of work other than politics he was busy in doing for last 5 years. If he is a writer, he must give the name of the books published. If some one is sportsperson, he should mention his achievements. If someone is working for NGO, he should mention the work done. It is clear that the elected MPs are not from middle class. As per data MPs are pretty rich. Today, persons with means can only fight election. They say it takes anything between 1 crore to 5 crore to win election for parliament.

In the table shown below, I am assuming that MPs with assets > 30 lakhs belong to affluent class. Just to put things in perspective, Rs. 30 lakh ensures a monthly income of Rs. 20,000 which should be a good money for living a decent life. Many may have much more as undeclared assets, but I digress.

States	Total MPs	MPs (>= 1 Crore)	MPs (>= 30 lakh < 1 crore)	% of the affluents
Jharkhand	14	2	5	50
Bihar	37	5	23	75
Delhi	7	3	3	86
Haryana	10	4	5	90
Punjab	14	10	3	92
Himachal	4	1	2	75
J&K	6	1	4	83
Orissa	21	2	3	24
Assam	14	2	5	50
West Bengal	42	-	9	21
Uttar Pradesh	80	22	27	61

Punjab seems to be having maximum number of crorepaties, but who says Bihar is the poorest state, it is clear second. However, Uttar Pradesh is not very much behind. But West Bengal is certainly poorer.

Jharkhand list includes former minister Subodh Kant Sahay (1.29cr) and Dhirendra Agarwal (2.84cr) of RJD.

Bihar’s crorepatis are George Fernandes(2.9cr), Ajit Kumar Singh (5.31cr), son of co-operative king late Tapesar Singh, Nikhil Kumar (2.17cr) from the family of ANSingh and himself an IPS, Meira Kumar (2.9cr) - the daughter of Babu Jag Jivan Ram.

Delhi has Kapil Sibal (Rs 16.45cr), Jagdish Tytler (Rs. 5.56cr), and Ajay Maken(Rs3.02cr) as its distinguished crorepatis.

Uttar Pradesh has some well known names but also some such contradictions which make me doubtful about authencity of these declarations. While Malaya Singh (Rs.1.1cr) and his son Achilles Adam(Rs1.3cr), Metadata (Rs.11 cry), Manteca Gandhi (Rest 6.7cr) are crorepatis, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi (Rs.36lakh) and Rahul Gandhi (Rs 55 lakh) are not.

Are you not surprised by going through this list? I was. Some one told me that each MP gets Rs.2 cr every year to spend on projects in his constituency and he manages 75% of that for himself I do not believe it. But you judge yourself. MPs represent our country. Their assets represent the assets of their people. So Indians are rich!

- Indra

Category: Indian politics |