The political party may often talk about aam aadmi but on the ground, they seem to be relying on crorepati candidates. Money power plays a crucial role in elections and the Punjab Assembly election is no exception.

In the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls, most of the parties have reposed their faith in crorepati candidates. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal’s assets grew maximum among the MLAs who are contesting the February 20 Punjab election.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Punjab Election Watch have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 101 MLAs contesting the Punjab Assembly election.

Out of these 101 MLAs, assets of 78 MLAs (77 per cent) have increased ranging from two per cent to 2,954 per cent and assets of 21 MLAs (21 per cent) have decreased ranging from two per cent to 74 per cent.

The average asset of these 101 re-contesting MLAs fielded by various parties including Independent candidates in 2017 was Rs 13.34 crore.

Average assets in 2022 elections

The average asset of these 101 re-contesting MLAs in 2022 is Rs 16.10 crore.

Average asset growth in five years (2017-2022) for these 101 re-contesting MLAs between 2017 Punjab Assembly election and 2022 polls is Rs 2.76 crore.

Percentage growth in five years (2017-2022) in assets for these 101 re-contesting MLAs is 21 per cent.

MLAs with highest assets growth

Sukhbir Singh Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is contesting from Jalalabad constituency and has declared maximum increase in assets with a growth of Rs 100 crores i.e. from Rs 102 crore in 2017 to Rs 202 crore in 2022.

Assets of Manpreet Singh Badal of the Congress, contesting from Bathinda Urban constituency, increased by Rs 32 crore from Rs 40 crore in 2017 to Rs 72 crore in 2022.

Assets of Aman Arora of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from Sunam constituency have risen by Rs 29 crore, from Rs 65 crore in 2017 to Rs 95 crore in 2022.