Chandigarh, January 20
In Punjab, there seems to be no better option for financial growth than a career in politics. At least that is what five of the sitting MLAs, who are contesting elections yet again, have proved by declaring an asset growth between 1,000 and 2,000 per cent in their affidavits this time.

Source: Punjab Election Watch and Association for Democratic Rights

According to a report prepared by an NGO, Punjab Election Watch and Association for Democratic Rights, of the 77 sitting MLAs in the fray, the average assets of these MLAs as declared in 2007 was Rs 4.6 crore. The figure rose to Rs 10.7 crore in 2012, registering a growth of 133 per cent in five years.

Topping the list is Congress MLA from Bholath in Kapurthala, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who has declared an increase of 2,282 per cent in his assets as compared to the last elections. This time, his worth is Rs 52 crore which is Rs 50 crore more from the last elections.

Close on his heels is Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Congress MLA from Rampura Phul, who has recorded a 1,066 per cent increase in his assets. His worth was Rs 99 lakh during the 2007 Assembly elections and now he has declared assets worth Rs 11 crore.

Ajit Singh Shant, another MLA, a Congress nominee, has shown an increase of 1,054 per cent in his assets this time.

The MLA, who is contesting from Nihal Singh Wala segment in Moga, has declared assets worth Rs 49 lakh. His worth was Rs 4 lakh last time. Assets of Kewal Singh Dhillon, another Congress MLA from Barnala, depict an increase of 1,048 per cent, with his worth going up from Rs 6 crore in 2007 to a whopping Rs 78 crore this time.