More than Half of UP MLAs are Crorepatis

Bangalore: Having invited comparisons with Mayawati's extravagant ways, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday reversed his decision to allow all legislators to purchase four-wheelers worth up to Rs 20 lakh by dipping into their local area development fund.

Akhilesh had proposed a car for each MLA up to Rs 20 lakh from the legislators’ discretionary development funds. While speaking at the end of the discussion on the 2012-13 state budget, he thanked the MLAs for the passage of the budget and as a token of thanks declared that every MLA would be allowed to buy a car costing up to Rs 20 lakh from this fund.

But this is the second time in three weeks that Akhilesh has been forced to revoke his decision within 24 hours. Just last month, he withdrew his order of shutting down malls and shops at 7pm to tackle the power crisis.

Akhilesh said "I take back the decision. The reason for this is that most of the MLAs have decided not to take the offer after media criticism," reported Times of India. "I felt that since MLAs have to move constantly, a vehicle will help them visit remote areas and monitor development effectively. But the media painted the decision as if it was against public interest," he added. He said the spirit of the decision was not understood.

An upset Akhilesh defended his "car fund" for legislators as meant only for those who could not afford one, but the chief minister's argument doesn't exactly help.

According to analysis by an NGO, out of 403 MLAs in UP, 271 (67 percent) are crorepatis. There are merely six MLAs who have declared assets less than Rs 5 lakh. Among the main parties, the average assets per candidate were noted to be - for SP - Rs 2.52 crore; for BSP its Rs 4.44 crore; for BJP its Rs 4.01 crore; and for Congress Rs 4.61 crore.