- According to a report Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has emerged as the wealthiest MLA in Odisha, boasting assets valued at Rs 63 crore.
- Patnaik’s assets include immovable properties worth Rs 63,64,15,261 and movable assets totaling Rs 23,26,555, as per the report.
- Saroj Kumar Meher, the MLA from Patnagarh under the BJD banner, ranked third with assets amounting to Rs 31 crore.
- On the opposite end of the spectrum, Congress MLA Makarand Muduli from Rayagada emerged as the MLA with the least assets in Odisha.
- The ADR report sheds light on the vast disparity in wealth among Odisha’s legislators, showcasing a stark contrast between the richest and poorest members of the assembly.
According to a report by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has emerged as the wealthiest MLA in Odisha, boasting assets valued at Rs 63 crore. The ADR analysis of affidavits submitted by candidates in 2019 and by-elections unveiled this revelation.
Patnaik’s assets include immovable properties worth Rs 63,64,15,261 and movable assets totaling Rs 23,26,555, as per the report. Following closely behind, BJD’s Jharsuguda MLA Dipali Das, daughter of former minister Naba Das, secured the second position with assets worth approximately Rs 40 crore, comprising movable assets of Rs 34,40,87,879 and immovable assets of Rs 5,76,40,400.
Saroj Kumar Meher, the MLA from Patnagarh under the BJD banner, ranked third with assets amounting to Rs 31 crore. Meher’s assets include movable assets worth Rs 57,49,827 and immovable assets valued at Rs 30,86,05,862.
Other prominent legislators listed in the report include Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Bhadrak MLA Sanjib Kumar Mallick, and Congress MLAs Mohammad Moquim (Barabati-Cuttack) and Suresh Kumar Rautray (Jatni), occupying the fourth to seventh positions respectively.
Further down the list, JD legislators Pranab Balabantaray (Dharmasala), Sudhir Kumar Samal (Dhenkanal), and Susant Kumar Rout (Bhubaneswar North) ranked eighth, ninth, and tenth in terms of wealth.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Congress MLA Makarand Muduli from Rayagada emerged as the MLA with the least assets in Odisha, with a total valuation of just Rs 15,000. His assets consist solely of movable assets worth Rs 15,000, without any immovable properties to his name.
The ADR report sheds light on the vast disparity in wealth among Odisha’s legislators, showcasing a stark contrast between the richest and poorest members of the assembly.
(With inputs from the agencies)
