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.

Comments

When democracy becomes a performance: The Tibetan exile experience

By Tseten Lhundup* I was born in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in southern India. From childhood, I grew up in simple barracks, along muddy roads, and in fields with limited resources. Over the years, I have watched our democratic system slowly erode. Observing the recent budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, these “democratic procedures” appear grand and orderly on the surface, yet in reality they amount to little more than empty formalities. The parliamentarians seem largely disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by ordinary exiled Tibetans like us.

Study links sanctions to 500,000 deaths annually leading to rise in global backlash

By Bharat Dogra International opinion is increasingly turning against the expanding burden of sanctions imposed on a growing number of countries. These measures are contributing to humanitarian crises, intensifying domestic discord, and heightening international tensions, thereby increasing the risks of conflicts and wars.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge — Blurring the line between fiction and political narrative

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" does not wait to be remembered; it arrives almost on the heels of its predecessor, released on March 19, 2026, just months after the first film’s December 2025 debut. The speed of its arrival feels less like creative urgency and more like calculated timing—cinema responding not to storytelling rhythm but to the emotional climate of its audience. Director Aditya Dhar, along with actor Yami Gautam, appears acutely aware of this moment and how to harness it.

Beyond the island: Top mythologist reorients the geography of the Ramayana

By Jag Jivan In a compelling new analysis that challenges conventional geographical assumptions about the ancient epic, writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik has traced the roots of the Ramayana to the forests and river systems of Central and Eastern India, rather than the peninsular south or the modern island nation of Sri Lanka.

BJP accounts for 99% of political donations in Gujarat: Corporate giants dominate

By Jag Jivan An analysis of the official data on donations received by national parties from Gujarat during the Financial Year 2024-25 reveals a staggering concentration of funding, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accounting for nearly the entirety of the contributions. The data, compiled in a document titled "National Parties donations received from Gujarat during FY-2024-25," lists thousands of transactions, painting a detailed picture of the financial backing for political parties from one of India’s most industrially significant states.

Alarming decline in India's repair culture threatens circular economy goals: Study

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive new study by environmental research and advocacy organisation Toxics Link has painted a worrying picture of India's fading repair culture, warning that the trend towards replacement over repair is accelerating the country's already critical e-waste crisis.

Captains extraordinaire: Ranking cricket’s most influential skippers

By Harsh Thakor* Ranking the greatest cricket captains is a subjective exercise, often sparking passionate debate among fans. The following list is not merely a tally of wins and losses; it is an assessment of leadership’s deeper impact. My criteria fuse a captain’s playing record with their tactical skill, placing the highest consideration on their ability to reshape a team’s fortunes and inspire those around them. A captain who inherited a dominant empire is judged differently from one who resurrected a nation’s cricket from the doldrums. With that in mind, here is my perspective on the finest leaders the game has ever seen.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

‘No merit’ in Chakraborty’s claims: Personal ethics talk sans details raises questions

By Jag Jivan A recent opinion piece published in The Quint by Subhash Chandra Garg has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Atanu Chakraborty from HDFC Bank , with Garg stating that the exit “raises doubts about his own ‘ethics’.” Garg, currently Chief Policy Advisor at Subhanjali and former Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India, writes that the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) appears to find no substance in Chakraborty’s claims, noting, “It is clear the RBI sees no merit in Atanu Chakraborty’s wild and vague assertions.”

Search This Blog