The assets of re-contesting 69 sitting MLAs across all political parties  has recorded increase of 2590 percent as per the affidavits submitted before the Election Commission for contesting the two-phased polls for the 90-member State Legislative Assembly.

A detailed analysis carried out jointly by Chhattisgarh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) released here which confirmed a massive jump in assets of 69 MLAs.

Individual candidate-wise data analysis confirmed that Dilip Lahariya of Congress from Masturi seat, recorded 2590 percent increase in assets from Rs 5.23 lakh (2013) to Rs 1.40,86,116 crore in 2018, thus recording a whopping increase of Rs 1.39 crore sum.

Amar Agrawal, Minister Commercial Tax, Urban Development, Commerce and Industries, who is seeking re-election from Bilaspur recorded 840 percent hike in assets. His assets was Rs 2.53 crore in year 2013 which rose to Rs 23.85 crore in 2018 thus recording increase of Rs 21.31 crore.

Chintamani Maharaj of Congress from Lundra seat recorded increase in assets by 427 percent from Rs 37.15 lakh to Rs 1.95 crores, Deepak Kumar Baij of Congress from insurgency-riddled Chitrakot seat also rose by 384 percent from Rs 10.53 lakh to Rs 51.00 lakh, the assets of Paras Nath Rajwade of Congress from Bhatgaon seat, also recorded increase by 368 percent from Rs 9.46 lakh to Rs 44.26 lakh, Bhaiyalal Rajwade of BJP from Baikuntpur seat, income registered a rise of 254 percent from Rs 62.98 lakhs to Rs 2.22 crore and Lakeshwar Baghel of Congress record increase by 243 percent from Rs 1.79 crore to Rs 6.15 crore.

Similarly, Congress candidate Mohanlal Markam from Kondagaon seat, registered increase in his income of 235 percent with assets climbed to 11.58 crore in 2018 from Rs 3.46 crore in 2013.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Brijmohan Agrawal recorded increase of assets by 232 percent (Rs 7.08 crore) from Rs 3.05 crore while another minister in BJP government  Ajay Chandrakar recorded hike in assets by 68 percent from Rs 8.17 crores (2013) to Rs 13.74 crores.

The report states that the average assets of re-contesting MLAs is Rs 12.29 crore among the 69 contesting in Chhattisgarh assembly elections 2018 while compared to year 2013 which was Rs 10.92 crore. The average growth in assets of re-contesting MLAs from 2013 to 2018, is Rs 1.37 crore.