Wealth of Congress MLAs up by over 150%, while party struggles to survive
A losing MLA’s wealth went up 700 times, but party couldn’t pay rent and staff salaries for months
All MLAs live in palatial bungalows, while Goa office functions out of rented premises
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Welcome, Mr Digvijay Singh, AICC in charge of Goa, who is here to find out the state of his party in Goa after a decisive rout in the Lok Sabha elections. He should have no worries about the state of his Congress MLAs though. They are all very rich crorepatis, with bungalows and multiple vehicles and business interests. And yet, Digivijay Singh will be addressing a press conference from the party’s rented premises, whose rent and staff salary was not paid for months when the current PCC president John Fernandes took over.
It’s clearly a party whose foot-soldiers and middle level commanders fend for themselves, with no budget for any battle, even the battle for survival. But the wealth and assets of its MLAs have seen quantum leaps ranging from 100 to 200 %. At the same time its losing Velim MLA, Fillipe Neri Rodrigues’ wealth went up by 700 per cent in the five years he ruled, climbing from around Rs 90 lakhs to above Rs 7 crores.
Pratapsing Rane has been a chief minister for 17 years and is the leader of Opposition as of now. He has topped in the asset increase for the Congress wining candidates with an asset increase of Rs 17.04 crores (from 8.82 crores to 25.87 crores) while defeated Cuncolim MLA is followed by Joaquim Alemao in the overall Congress listing with a asset increase of Rs 22.13 crores (from 9.12 crores to 31.26 crores).
Atanasio Monserrate, the Taleigao strong man and St Cruz MLA shows a modest increase of around Rs 7 crore in his declared assets or in percentage terms 51% .He has interests in real estate and hotels. He is reputed to get every car launched first into his stable. Has two palatial bungalows, one an ancestral one, and the other one in Miramar. Was TCP minister when the Regional Plan 2011 was formulated.
His friend and losing South Goa MP candidate Reginaldo Lourenco shows an asset increase of 1559% from his 2007 affidavit.
Digambar was Chief Minister for 5 years. Was No 2 in the Parrikar-led BJP government. Has been alleged to have businesses in wife’s and son-in-law’s name. Son-in-law alleged to have been named in an investigative report as having accounts in the Cayman islands. Officially, his asset base has increased from the little over 3 crores to over 6 crores, a 92% asset increase.
While all figures have been taken from their election affidavits, there’s is no doubt that their declared wealth has further jumped from 2012 to 2014. The wealth has done nothing for the party. Not only did the Congress get just 9 seats in 2012, it has lost the South Goa LS seat on a wave of indifference and apathy.
RICH CONGRESSMEN
PRATAPSING RANE: Lives in Altinho, house in Sattari, landed property plus agricultural property. Chief Minister for 17 years. He does not show any car in his affidavit except a Mahindra utility. He says he owns a Tata truck, a Mahindra utility, a power tiller and 2 Mahindra tractors.
Wealth meter – 2007: 8.82 crore; 2012: 25.87 crore
193% increase
ATANASIO MONSERRATE: He has the fanciest of cars, the largest bungalows and enviable lifestyle which hasn’t changed even under the watchful eyes of the Income Tax and the Enforcement Directorate.
Wealth meter – 2007: 15,32,04,927; 2012: 23,07,85,750
51% increase
VISHWAJIT RANE: Bungalow in Dona Paula, health minister in previous government, said to have interests in real estate.
Wealth meter – 2007: 7,46,16,016 (7 Crore+); 2012: 15,69,20,001 15 Crore+
110% increase
DIGAMBAR KAMAT: The former CM’s wife Aasha controls his wealth and well-being. Known to have several business interests indirectly with younger family members like his son-in-law successful agents of wealth creation
Wealth meter – 2007: 3,23,56,010 ; 2012: 6,21,54,868
92% increase
ALEIXO REGINALDO LOURENCO: From an asset base of Rs 7 lakh in 2007, his wealth went upto over a crore in 2012. Though substantially less than many of his worthy counterparts, the percentage leap in his wealth is jaw dropping. 1559%
Wealth Meter – 2007: (won on SGF) 7,00,000; 2012: 1,16,12,443 1 Crore+
1559% increase
CHANDRAKANT BABU KAVLEKAR: Was alleged to have been involved in the GIDC plot allotment scam. Has vast amounts of land and business interests even outside Goa, like Kerala.
Wealth meter – 2007: 1,31,66,225; 2012: 5,31,79,015
304% increase
MAUVIN GODINHO: MLA of Vasco, lives in Dona Paula. Brother has had land around proposed Mopa airport. Plan to start a cable news channel has not yet materialized.
Wealth Meter – 2007: 2,73,70,748; 2012: 7,96,29,474
191% increase
PANDURANG MADKAIKAR: Construction magnate. Has large tracts of land and construction projects around old Goa area.
Wealth meter
2007: 5,07,82,370
2012: 12,37,46,748
144% increase
Motor Vehicles: LML Vespa scooter, Mazda Truck, Toyota Innova, Wagon R, Beetle Car, Audi Q5 Car, Swaraj Madza Mini Bus
