Out of the 26 Members of Parliament (MPs) elected from Gujarat, 12 are set to represent their constituencies in the Lok Sabha for a second or subsequent term. Notably, five of these 12 MPs have seen their wealth increase by more than 100% in 2024 compared to 2019.
According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the wealth of five Gujarat MPs has significantly increased by 112 to 273% over the past five years. Mansukh Vasava, a seven-time winning BJP MP from Bharuch, experienced the highest increase with his wealth soaring by 273%. In 2019, his assets were valued at approximately Rs. 68.35 lakh, which have grown to around Rs. 2.54 crore this year, marking an increase of about Rs. 1.86 crore. Vasava attributes his income to his Lok Sabha salary, bank interest and other sources.
Poonam Madam, the MP from Jamnagar, is the second highest wealth gainer, with her assets increasing by approximately Rs. 104 crore from 2019. Her wealth rose from around Rs. 42.73 crore in 2019 to approximately Rs. 147.70 crore in 2024.
While the wealth of many Gujarat BJP MPs is on the rise, that of party state president and Navsari MP C.R. Patil has experienced a decline. His wealth has decreased by 11% from 2019 to 2024. In 2019, Patil’s assets were valued at approximately Rs. 44.60 crore, but by 2024, they had dropped to around Rs. 39.49 crore, marking a reduction of about Rs. 5.11 crore.
In a concerning revelation, criminal charges have been filed against five of the MPs, including Gandhinagar MP Amit Shah, Junagadh MP Rajesh Chudasama, Rajkot MP Purushottam Rupala, Chhota Udaipur MP Jasu Rathwa and Congress MP from Banaskantha Geniben Thakor.
In 2024, criminal charges were registered against five out of the 26 winning candidates from Gujarat. This marks an increase from 2019, when four MPs had criminal records, but a decrease from 2014 when nine MPs had a criminal history. The ADR report stated that 46% of the winning candidates (future MPs) in 2024 have a criminal history, with 31% facing serious charges. In comparison, the percentage of MPs with a criminal history was 43% in 2019, 34% in 2014 and 30% in 2009.
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