Seventy-three percent of the newly elected MLAs in Odisha are ‘crorepatis’, with BJD’s Sanatan Mahakud being the richest legislator with total assets worth Rs 227.67 crore, according to a recent report.

The Odisha Assembly comprises 147 members. An analysis by Odisha Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) of the self-sworn affidavits of all 147 elected MLA candidates revealed that 73 percent of the newly elected MLAs in 2024 are ‘crorepatis’. In comparison, 95 (65 percent) ‘crorepati’ MLAs were elected in the 2019 polls.

This increase highlights the growing wealth among the state’s legislative representatives, reflecting broader trends in the financial backgrounds of politicians across India.