Haryana Assembly 2024: Wealth, Criminal Records, and Shifting Dynamics

The recent elections for the 90-member Haryana Assembly have revealed some striking trends regarding the wealth and backgrounds of the newly-elected MLAs. According to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a staggering 96 percent of the MLAs (86 out of 90) are millionaires. This marks a notable increase from 93 percent in 2019. However, this wealth comes with a caveat: 13 percent (12 MLAs) face criminal charges.

Wealth Among MLAs

The financial profiles of the winning candidates paint a picture of affluence. Among the MLAs, 44 percent possess assets exceeding Rs 10 crore. Only 2.2 percent have assets below Rs 20 lakh. The average assets for these candidates have jumped to Rs 24.97 crore, a significant rise from Rs 18.29 crore in 2019.

Party-wise, the wealth distribution is telling. 96 percent of BJP legislators and 95 percent of Congress MLAs have declared assets of over Rs 1 crore. All Independent and INLD winners fall into this category. Notably, Independent MLA Savitri Jindal from Hisar leads the pack with a remarkable asset total of over Rs 270 crore. She is followed by BJP‘s Shakti Rani Sharma with Rs 145 crore and Shruti Choudhry at Rs 134 crore.

Re-elected MLAs and Criminal Backgrounds

Among the 30 re-elected MLAs, their average assets surged by 59 percent since 2019, climbing from Rs 9.08 crore to Rs 14.46 crore. However, the presence of criminal records among winning candidates raises concerns. Twelve MLAs have reported criminal backgrounds. Six of them face serious charges, including one accused of attempted murder. This marks an increase from 2019, when seven candidates had serious criminal cases against them.

By party affiliation, 19 percent of Congress MLAs, 6 percent of BJP legislators, and a staggering 67 percent of Independent winners have declared criminal cases.

Financial Liabilities and Income

In addition to assets, the analysis revealed that 28 winning candidates have liabilities of Rs 1 crore or more. Congress‘ Rajbir Fartia from Loharu leads with liabilities totaling Rs 44 crore. Fartia also boasts the title of the highest income earner. He declared an income of Rs 10.75 crore in his Income Tax Return for 2023-24.

Educational Qualifications and Gender Representation

When it comes to educational qualifications, 68 percent of the winning candidates hold degrees at the graduate level or higher. Meanwhile, 29 percent have education ranging from Class 8 to Class 12. The new Assembly shows slight improvement in gender representation. Fourteen percent of legislators are women, up from 10 percent in 2019. Additionally, 66 percent of the MLAs are aged between 51 and 80 years.

Election Results and Party Dynamics

The poll results, announced on Tuesday, reflect a significant victory for the ruling BJP. They have successfully secured a hat-trick in Haryana and thwarted Congress‘ comeback efforts. With a record 48 seats, the BJP outperformed Congress by 11 seats.

Parties like the JJP and AAP faced major setbacks, while the INLD managed to win only two seats.

In summary, the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections not only underscore the immense wealth among MLAs but also highlight concerning trends regarding criminal backgrounds and liabilities. As the new Assembly convenes, it will be crucial to see how these dynamics play out in governance and policy-making in the state.