Mumbai: With just a few days left for Assembly elections in Maharashtra, candidates have submitted records of criminal cases filed against them and details of assets. The assets filed by 27 ministers in the state have revealed that their assets increased significantly in the last five years.
While their assets have increased massively, the wealth of several ministers increased to 772 percent. As per TV9 Marathi, the wealth of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and two Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar have increased to some extent. Shinde’s net worth has increased by 187 percent in the last five years, from Rs 7.81 crore to Rs 22.4 crore.
Increase in immovable assets
According to the affidavit filed by other candidates, some of the ministers have invested in immovable assets like houses, land, and bungalows. Notably, Women and Child Welfare Minister Aditi Tatkare’s assets have increased by 772 percent. From Rs 39 lakh in 2019, her assets increased to Rs 3.4 crore this year.
Apart from her, Public Works Minister Ravindra Chavan’s total assets, which were Rs 7 crore in 2019, increased to Rs 15.5 crore in 2024. His assets include items like a revolver worth Rs 1.5 lakh. Another Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Rathod’s assets too have increased from Rs 5.9 crore to Rs 15.9 crore., an increase of 220 percent. Similarly, Sanjay Bansode’s wealth has increased by 144 percent, from Rs 2 crore in 2019 to Rs 5 crore in 2024, TV9 Marathi reported further.
Nearly 8,000 candidates have submitted affidavits
Nearly 8,000 candidates have submitted their affidavits. BJP’s Parag Shah, the incumbent MLA from Ghatkopar East is the richest candidate to contest this year, with assets of Rs 3383.06 crore, as per the declaration in his election affidavit. In the last five years, his wealth has increased by 575 percent. In the 2019 Assembly, he had declared his assets worth Rs 550.62 crore. Speaking to NDTV Shah said that he was an honest candidate and that even his opponents never accused him of any dishonesty.
