The 77 incumbents in the Punjab assembly elections this year saw an average spurt of 133 percent in their assets over the last term of the state legislature. Punjab Election Watch (PEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) arrived at the figure after comparing the details of assets filed by these MLAs when they were fighting in the 2007 elections in the state with their affidavits declaring their wealth for the elections due this year.

A PEW-ADR report says the average assets of these MLAs as declared in 2007 was Rs 4.6 crore which increased to Rs 10.7 crore in 2012. Thus, their average wealth grew by Rs 6.1 crore.

The report also noted that 18 of the 77 MLAs up for re-election face criminal charges of which five have serious cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, etc. pending against them.