Over 95% of the members of the legislative assembly (MLA) in Karnataka are crorepatis while 35% of the lawmakers have declared criminal cases, a report by poll watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) revealed on Thursday.
ADR recently analysed the criminal, financial and other background details of 219 out of 224 sitting MLAs from Karnataka.
15 MLAs had switched parties after the 2018 assembly elections, of which, 10 contested from the Indian National Congress (INC) in the 2018 assembly polls, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) being their current party.
According to the report, around 26% of the MLAs have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits, with BJP recording the highest number of such MLAs at 30%.
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BJP’s 112 out of 118 MLAs are crorepatis, the report added.
The average assets per sitting MLA have been valued at ₹29.85 crore, with the Congress leading in average assets of ₹48.58 crore.
The average assets per candidate for 118 BJP MLAs stood at ₹19.6 crore, while Janata Dal (Secular) (JDs) MLAs average assets amounted to ₹4.34 crore and four independent MLAs have average assets of ₹40.92 crore.
As many as 49 out of 112 MLAs from the BJP, 16 out of 67 MLAs from the INC, 9 out of 30 MLAs from the JD(S) and 2 out of 4 independent MLAs have declared criminal cases against them.
35 MLAs from the BJP, 13 from INC and 8 from the JD(S) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
DK Shivakumar, Congress member representing the Kanakapura constituency, holds the highest valued assets at over ₹840 crore, followed by Suresh BS and M Krishnappa, with total assets of over ₹416 crore and ₹236 crore respectively.
Out of 219 sitting MLAs analysed, 73 (33%) MLAs declared educational qualification until the Class 12, whereas 140 (64%) MLAs declared as graduates.
Only two MLAs had a doctorate degree, the report added.
