In a first for Goa, all 40 MLAs are crorepatis

PANJIM: For the first time in the history of Goa Assembly, all 40 MLAs are crorepatis. BJP’s Calangute MLA Michael Lobo leads the pack with the highest declared assets of over Rs 54.59 crore. In the last Assembly elections, 93 percent – 37 of the elected MLAs – had assets in crores of rupees. 

The data analyses, released by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) reveals that 27 MLAs (68 percent) have assets of Rs 5 crore and above, while eight MLAs (20 percent) and the remaining five (12percent) have declared their assets between Rs 2-5 crore and Rs 1-2 crore respectively.

The study of self-sworn affidavits shows that senior most politician and long-serving MLA Pratapsing Rane has declared assets worth Rs 50 crore approx while Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate ranks third having over Rs 30 crore in assets. Vishwajit Rane, who has quit the Congress and as an MLA of stands fourth in the list with over Rs 21 crore assets. 

The average assets per MLA is Rs 10.90 crore whereas the average assets of candidates who contested the 2017 elections was Rs 4.75 crore. In 2012, the average assets per MLA analyzed was Rs 7.28 crore. 

Among the major parties, the average assets analyzed per MLA for 17 Congress MLAs is Rs 12.17 crore whilst 13 BJP MLAs have average assets of Rs 11.53 crore, three MLAs each from MGP and Goa Forward Party recorded average assets at Rs 9.35 crore and Rs 8.55 crore respectively.  

The top three MLAs with highest liabilities are Vishwajit Rane, Michael Lobo and Nilesh Cabral.