Most Gujarat ministers are crorepatis; One faces serious criminal charges: ADR report

By A Representative

New Delhi, October 22, 2025 — An analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and of the self-sworn of all ’s reconstituted cabinet, announced on October 17, has revealed that a majority are wealthy and a few face criminal cases. The study, based on affidavits filed before the and subsequent bypolls, shows that 23 ministers (88%) are crorepatis, with average declared assets of ₹11.12 crore.

The report identifies , , as the richest minister, declaring assets worth ₹97.35 crore. At the other end, from has the lowest declared assets of ₹46.96 lakh. Eighteen ministers have declared liabilities, the highest being ₹8.93 crore by of .

The ADR report states that 5 ministers (19%) have declared criminal cases, while one (4%) faces serious criminal charges. The minister facing serious charges is Parshottambhai O. Solanki, who has three pending criminal cases registered under the and various sections of the related to cheating and forgery. The serious charges include Section 7, 8, 13(1)(a), 13(1)(d), and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and Sections 420, 467, 477, 419, and 465 of the IPC. The cases, pending before courts in and , involve allegations of corruption, forgery, and fraudulent transactions, though no convictions have been recorded.

Deputy Chief Minister , who represents the , has declared his educational qualification as Class 8 pass, having studied at T & T.V. High School, Nanpura, Surat. At 37, he is among the younger members of the cabinet and has also declared assets worth over ₹17.42 crore.

In terms of overall educational background, 16 ministers (62%) are graduates or hold higher degrees, four are diploma holders, and six (23%) have completed education between Class 8 and 12. Ten ministers are aged between 31 and 50 years, while 15 are between 51 and 70 years; one minister is 71. Three ministers (12%) are women.

ADR stated that the data was sourced from affidavits available on the ’s website and is aimed at promoting transparency and enabling voters to make informed choices.

Kutch water crisis deepens: Bhuj lost 54 of its 82 lakes; pastoralists migrate first time since 2018

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From a cowshed to a home: How Mangaltai's Palawi gives HIV-positive children a second life

By Dr A.V. Yadappanavar * In a small village called Takli, not far from the temple town of Pandharpur in Maharashtra, there is a home where children who were once abandoned because of their HIV status now find food, medicine, education, and something even rarer — love without fear. The home is called Palawi, and it was founded in 2001 by Mangal Shah, affectionately known as Mangaltai, a social worker who could not look away from children rejected by their own families.

Tribal rights under siege: Roundtable Seeks strong legal defence of land, jobs and PESA

By A Representative Tribal rights activists, legal experts, tribal leaders, former officials and civil society representatives from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have called for urgent action on tribal land rights, employment and PESA safeguards. They were participating in roundtable on Constitutional Safeguards for Scheduled Tribes in the Telugu States at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad. Former Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao chaired the deliberations.

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