Photograph: @MahaDGIPR/Twitter
In a massive embarrassment for the Eknath Shinde – BJP government in Maharashtra, seventy-five per cent of the Maharashtra ministers have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
BJP has been hitting out at TMC government of Mamata Banerjee but this ADR revelation is massive loss of face for the BJP and Devendra Fadnavis claim of clean government .
Maharashtra now has 20 ministers, including the chief minister, after the council of ministers was expanded on August 9 with the induction of 18 members.
After the cabinet expansion, the Association for Democratic Reforms and the Maharashtra Election Watch analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all ministers submitted during the assembly polls in 2019.
According to the analysis, 15 (75 per cent) ministers have declared criminal cases against themselves and 13 (65 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. All the ministers are crorepatis and the average value of their assets is Rs 47.45 crore. There is no woman in the council of ministers.
“The minister with the highest declared total assets is Mangal Prabhat Lodha from Malabar Hill constituency with assets worth Rs 441.65 crore. The minister with the lowest declared total assets is Bhumare Sandipanrao Asaram from Paithan constituency with assets worth Rs 2.92 crore,” the ADR said. There is no woman in the council of ministers.
Eight (40 per cent) the ministers have declared their educational qualification to be between 10th and 12th standard, while 11 (55 per cent) have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above.
One minister holds a diploma. Four ministers are aged between 41 and 50 years and the remaining between 51 and 70 years.
Reacting to the Shinde – BJP Government , Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh , AICC general secretary in charge of communication, publicity and media tweeted , Congressmen with skeletons in their cupboards took advantage of the BJP Washing Machine to become CMs, Ministers, MPs & MLAs. Now the same machine is washing a Shiv Sainik who’s become a Minister now after having been forced to resign when BJP was in the Opposition in Maharashtra.
Congressmen with skeletons in their cupboards took advantage of the BJP Washing Machine to become CMs, Ministers, MPs & MLAs. Now the same machine is washing a Shiv Sainik who’s become a Minister now after having been forced to resign when BJP was in the Opposition in Maharashtra
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 10, 2022
