Source: 
DNA
http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=14191&boxid=31348&ed_date=2013-4-05&ed_code=860009&ed_page=3
Date: 
05.04.2013
City: 
BANGALORE

Bangalore: With the assembly elections round the corner, the voters’ search for ideal candidates to be their representatives could prove tougher if one takes a look at the track record of our incumbent ministers and MLAs.
Sample this to understand the ground realities – According to a report released by the Karnataka Election Watch(KEW) in association with the Association for Democratic Reforms(ADR) in Bangalore on Thursday, 42% of the ministers in the state (that is 10 out of the 24 analyzed) have self declared criminal cases against them. 
The report prepared after analyzing the affidavits of 24 out of 27 ministers including chief minister 
Jagadish Shettar submitted to Election Commission further states the average asset of a minister in Karnataka has grown 665% between the period 2004 to 2008.
Of these ministers, Anand Singh, CT Ravi, Balachandra Jarkiholi and former minister Anand Asnotikar are facing serious criminal cases, ranging from attempt to murder, kidnapping, theft and promoting enmity between two groups on grounds of religion, race and language.
The KEW founder members Trilochan Sastry and Harish Narasappa, stated that it is part of their campaign –my vote is not for sale– to counter excessive spending in elections and bribing of voters through money, liquor and various gifts. 
As for the riches amassed by the ministers and MLAs, 18 out of 24 ministers analyzed (that is 75% of the ministers)are crorepatis. Among them, tourism minister Anand Singh is the richest with assets of Rs88.66crore. 
Meanwhile, the average asset of a minister in the state is Rs6.96crore. 
The report also states that 14 out of the 24 ministers analyzed held a ministerial position during the 2004 assembly as well. The growth in average asset per minister was 665% from 2004 to 2008.
The average asset per MLA in state assembly is Rs5.98crore and Priya Krishna of Congress from Govindaraj Nagar constituency stands tall as the richest among them with total assets of Rs767crore. 

There was a growth of 364% in the average asset of MLAs from 2004 to 2008.
Figuratively, `9.55 crore is the average wealth of the Congress MLAs. That of the JD(S) MLAs is `4.43 crore and of BJP MLAs is`4.35 crore. The report also has comparative average assets of legislators of all the southern states, with MLAs from Karnataka at the top with average assets of 5.98crore. The average assets of the MLAs Tamil Nadu assembly is `3.98crore, and it is 3.78crore for MLAs of Andhra Pradesh and `1.43crore for MLAs in Kerala.

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