Bihar Election 2025: Bihar’s political landscape is as diverse in wealth as it is in politics. Ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch looked into the financial backgrounds of 241 of the state’s 243 sitting MLAs, based on the affidavits they submitted before the 2020 Assembly elections and subsequent by-elections. Focusing on their financial assets, the study reveals a striking gap between the richest and the poorest legislators.
JD(U)’s Neelam Devi is Bihar’s Richest Sitting MLA
Leading the chart of Bihar’s wealthiest legislators is Neelam Devi, the JD(U) MLA from Mokama, elected in a 2022 bypoll. She has declared total assets worth over Rs 80 crore, combining Rs 29.8 crore in movable assets and Rs 50.6 crore in immovable property. Her wealth puts her far ahead of other legislators in the state assembly.
Following her is Manorama Devi of JD(U) from Belaganj, Gaya, who declared assets worth Rs 72.8 crore, including a major share in immovable property. The third on the list is Ajit Sharma, Congress MLA from Bhagalpur, with assets of about Rs 43.2 crore.
These figures highlight how a few legislators hold significant wealth in Bihar’s political landscape, often reflecting their strong influence and business interests beyond politics.
RJD Sitting MLA Ramvriksh Sada Bihar with lowest assets
At the other end of the spectrum is Ramvriksh Sada, an RJD MLA from Alauli (SC) in Khagaria district, who declared total assets of just Rs 70,000, including Rs30,000 in movable and Rs 40,000 in immovable property.
Next on the list is Gopal Ravidas of CPI(ML)(L) from Phulwari (SC), with assets worth Rs 1.59 lakh, followed by Sandeep Saurav, also from CPI(ML)(L) representing Paliganj, who declared assets worth Rs 3.45 lakh.
The contrast between the richest and the poorest MLAs, ranging from over Rs 80 crore to less than Rs 1 lakh, clearly shows the sharp financial divide within Bihar’s political arena ahead of the upcoming elections.