Union ministers have grown richer since 2009: Report

Ministers in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government have grown richer by an average Rs10 crore since the 2009 general elections, says a report by an election watchdog.

Among the ministers who have gained the most in the past two years, Dr S Jagathrakshakan of DMK tops the list with an increase of Rs64.5 crore - from Rs5.9 crore in 2009 to Rs70 crore 2011, according to the analysis by by Association for Democratic Research (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW).

Jagathrakshakan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, is followed by Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel, who has increased his assets by Rs42 crore - from Rs79.8 crore in 2009 to Rs 122 crore in 2011.

Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath of Congress is the third richest minister who saw his assets grow by Rs26 crore - from Rs14 crore in 2009 to Rs41 crores in 2011, the report said.

The watchdog said it has derived the figures after comparing the assets declared during the 2009 general elections, which is available in the Election Commission website, and the 2011 declaration put out in the PMO website.

Percentage wise, the highest increase has been for Jagathrakshakan whose assets have grown by 1,092% in the past two years. He is followed by Panabaka Lakshmi of Congress with a growth of 828% in her assets and Tusharbhai Chaudhary, also Congress, with a growth of 705% in his assets.