J&K MLAs Wealth : 84% of J&K Lawmakers Now Crorepatis, ADR Data Shows
Srinagar, 10-10-2024: A recent report by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed that a significant 84 percent of the newly elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Jammu and Kashmir are crorepatis, marking a 9 percent increase from the figures recorded in 2014. The ADR data highlights that the average declared assets of these MLAs stand at an impressive ₹11.43 crore. This marks a substantial rise compared to the average of ₹4.56 crore a decade ago, indicating a trend of growing wealth among political representatives in the region.
Among the wealthiest MLAs in Jammu and Kashmir are notable figures like Tariq Hamid Karra, the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress, and BJP leader Devender Rana. Karra, who secured the Central Shalteng seat, tops the list with declared assets worth ₹148 crore, making him the richest legislator in the Union Territory. Following him, Devender Rana, who won from the Nagrota constituency, has declared assets amounting to ₹126 crore, placing him as the second wealthiest MLA. Mushtaq Ahmad Guroo, a businessman and National Conference (NC) MLA from Chanapora, ranks third, with assets worth ₹94 crore.
In contrast, some of the newly elected representatives have reported minimal assets. AAP’s Mehraj Malik, the first MLA from his party in Jammu and Kashmir, has declared assets of just ₹29,070, making him the poorest legislator in the region. NC MLA from Karnah, Javaid Ahmad Mirchal, ranks as the second poorest with assets totaling ₹3 lakh, followed by NC’s Kokernag MLA Zafar Ali Khatana, whose net worth is estimated at ₹34 lakh.
The ADR report provides a detailed breakdown of the average wealth of MLAs across different parties. Congress MLAs have the highest average net worth, with six members holding assets averaging over ₹30 crore. The 29 BJP MLAs report an average asset value of ₹14.55 crore. Meanwhile, the NC’s 42 legislators hold average assets of ₹8.47 crore. The three MLAs from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have average declared assets of ₹4.25 crore, while the seven Independents show an average net worth of approximately ₹5 crore.
A further breakdown reveals that 88 percent of NC MLAs (37 out of 42) are crorepatis, while 86 percent of BJP MLAs (25 out of 29) also fall into this category. The report shows that all six Congress MLAs, along with the lone representatives from the CPI(M) and the People’s Conference, have declared assets exceeding ₹1 crore.
The data illustrates that the wealth among the legislators varies significantly. Twenty-three MLAs have declared assets exceeding₹10 crore, while 26 MLAs have assets in the range of ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore. The largest group, comprising 27 MLAs, falls within the ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore bracket. Additionally, there are 14 legislators who have declared assets below ₹1 crore.
