New Delhi: A new analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) says that 36 ministers across India have declared assets worth over ₹100 crore, making them billionaires. The report was released on Wednesday and it examined the financial disclosures of 643 ministers from state governments, Union Territories and the Union Council of Ministers.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald, collectively, these ministers declared assets worth ₹23,929 crore. Billionaire ministers account for nearly 6% of the total.
Party-wise, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads the list with 14 billionaire ministers, making up 4% of its ministerial strength. The Congress follows with 11 out of 61 ministers (18%) falling into the billionaire category. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ranks third, with six of its 23 ministers (26%) reporting assets above the ₹100 crore mark. Ministers from the Aam Aadmi Party, Janasena Party, JD(S), NCP and Shiv Sena also feature in the list.
The richest minister in the country is Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani of the TDP from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh in the Lok Sabha, with his assets exceeding ₹5,705 crore. Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is second on the list, with assets worth over ₹1,413 crore. With assets valued at over ₹931 crore, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ranks third, who is also knows as the "richest Chief Minister."
Others named in the top ten include Narayana Ponguru and Nara Lokesh (Andhra Pradesh), Gaddam Vivekanand and Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy (Telangana), Suresha B S (Karnataka), Mangal Prabhat Lodha (Maharashtra) and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Karnataka has the highest number of billionaire ministers at eight. Andhra Pradesh stands second (six). While Maharashtra has four, Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Telangana all have two. The states with one billionaire minister are Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab.
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Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
