Parag Shah Tops List of India’s Wealthiest Politicians

 Parag Shah Tops List of India’s Wealthiest Politicians

A recently published report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has named Parag Shah, a BJP leader from Maharashtra, as the richest politician in India, with declared assets worth an astonishing ₹3,383 crore. The ADR’s March 2025 review, based on candidate affidavits, highlights an elite club of the country’s wealthiest lawmakers, all with assets crossing Rs 900 crore.

According to the report, D.K. Shivakumar of Karnataka (Congress) takes the second spot with assets of ₹1,413 crore, followed closely by Independent MLA K.H.P. Gowda of Karnataka with ₹1,267 crore. Two other Karnataka politicians, Congress leader Priya Krishna (₹1,156 crore) and D. K. Shivakumar’s party colleague, make up the rest of the list, reflecting the dominance of southern leaders in the upper echelons of wealth.

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) rounds out the top five, having disclosed assets valued at ₹931 crore, underlining the substantial private fortunes that remain part of India’s political landscape.

The ADR report draws renewed attention to the financial clout wielded by these politicians and raises ongoing questions about the complex relationship between personal wealth and public service in India’s democracy. While the presence of such prosperity is not new, the concentration among a handful of leaders continues to spark debate about electoral transparency and the need for robust checks on the sources of political wealth.