Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: With the Assam Assembly elections here, the financial profiles of sitting legislators seeking re-election are under fresh scrutiny, with data showing a sharp rise in their declared wealth over the past five years. An analysis by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) of 83 re-contesting MLAs from various parties and independents reveals a significant jump in average assets since the last election.In 2021, the average assets of these MLAs stood at Rs 4.17 crore. By 2026, this has increased to Rs 7.52 crore—an average growth of Rs 3.34 crore per candidate.
Overall, this marks an 80% rise in assets among those returning to the electoral fray, highlighting a notable shift in their financial standing.United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL), with single re-contesting MLA, saw the sharpest rise with 222.8% average increase in assets. The party was a part of the ruling NDA, but has decided to go solo this time. The departure of UPPL is a setback in the Bodoland region, where it had secured seven seats in 2021 and played a crucial role in forming the government along with the AGP, as the BJP lacked a majority on its own.Bodoland Peoples Front, with two re-contesting MLAs, and also a part of the ruling NDA, saw a 143.93% average rise in assets. BJP with highest re-contesting MLAs, 45, saw an average rise of 94.24% in assets while Congress with 14 sitting MLAs saw 57.32% increase in assets.Comparative analysis of party wise average assets of re-contesting MLAs in 2021 and 2026
| Party | Re-contesting MLA(s) | Average% increase in assets |
| BJP | 45 | 94.24% |
| INC | 14 | 57.32% |
| Asom Gana Parishad | 7 | 53.21% |
| All India United Democratic Front | 7 | 88.87% |
| IND | 3 | 30.96% |
| Bodoland Peoples Front | 2 | 143.93% |
| Raijor Dal | 2 | 70.53% |
| AITC | 1 | 89.75% |
| United Peoples Party Liberal | 1 | 222.8% |
| CPI(M) | 1 | 38.61% |
| Grand total | 80% |
