It has been one big leap for BSP leader Mayawati. From an MP in 2004, she has become Chief Minister of the largest state. Over the same period, her assets have grown more than 30 times — from a little over Rs 1.67 crore to Rs 52 crore.

These are the figures Mayawati herself has provided in affidavits filed with her election nominations, the first for the Akbarpur Lok Sabha seat and the latest one for the UP Legislative Council.

On Wednesday, Mayawati offered an interesting explanation for the quantum jump in her assets: these were acquired with money given by her party workers who were agitated after she was “framed” by the BJP in the Taj Corridor and the disproportionate assets case. She said her new acquisitions were in the record of the Income-Tax Department.

And she thanked the BJP for her new-found wealth: “In 2003, I had nothing and today I have so much. For this, the credit goes to the BJP.”

Mayawati’s assets in 2004 included Rs 42.44 lakh in cash, bank balance and ornaments, plus residential buildings worth Rs 1.25 crore. These buildings are all in Inderpuri colony of Delhi where her parents live.

In her latest affidavit, filed on June 25, she has admitted owning properties worth Rs 37.82 crore, Rs 50.27 lakh in cash, Rs 12.88 lakh in deposits in banks, financial and non-financial institutions, gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 49.75 lakh, silverware worth Rs 1,12,480 and murals worth Rs 15 lakh.

... contd.