Bihar’s Richest & Poorest Sitting MLAs: ADR Report Highlights Huge Wealth Divide Ahead Of 2025 Assembly Elections

As Bihar heads toward the 2025 Assembly Elections, a new report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Bihar Election Watch has spotlighted the stark wealth inequality among the state’s legislators.According

to the ADR report, which analysed the self-declared affidavits of 241 out of 243 sitting MLAs, the financial profiles of Bihar’s lawmakers show a striking contrast , with the richest MLA owning over Rs 80 crore in assets, while the poorest has declared less than Rs 1 lakh.JD(U)’s Neelam Devi Tops The List With Rs 80 Crore In AssetsLeading the chart is Neelam Devi, the Janata Dal (United) MLA from Mokama, who was elected in a 2022 bypoll. As per the ADR and Bihar Election Watch data, Neelam Devi has declared total assets worth over Rs 80 crore, comprising Rs 29.8 crore in movable assets and Rs 50.6 crore in immovable property.Her massive wealth makes her not only Bihar’s richest sitting MLA but also one of the wealthiest legislators in India, underscoring how personal fortunes and political influence often go hand in hand in state politics.The ADR report further reveals that Manorama Devi, another JD(U) legislator representing Belaganj in Gaya district, occupies the second position with declared assets of Rs 72.8 crore. Most of her wealth is tied up in land and property holdings.Ajit Sharma, the Congress MLA from Bhagalpur, ranks third with a declared net worth of approximately Rs 43.2 crore, according to the same ADR analysis.RJD’s Ramvriksh Sada Declared Just Rs 70,000 In AssetsAt the opposite end of the wealth spectrum stands Ramvriksh Sada, a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA representing Alauli (SC) in Khagaria district. The ADR report states that Sada’s total declared assets amount to just Rs 70,000, including Rs 30,000 in movable and Rs 40,000 in immovable property.Sada, a grassroots leader from one of Bihar’s most economically disadvantaged constituencies, has long been vocal about agrarian distress and unemployment in rural areas. His declaration illustrates the vast income disparity even within the state’s political class.Following him is Gopal Ravidas of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation) from Phulwari (SC), with total assets worth Rs 1.59 lakh, and Sandeep Saurav, also from CPI(ML)(L), representing Paliganj, who declared Rs 3.45 lakh.A 1,14,000-Fold Wealth Gap Between Top And BottomThe ADR study shows a gap of more than Rs 80 crore between the richest and poorest MLAs , a disparity that translates into a 1,14,000-fold difference in personal wealth. Such figures, as highlighted by ADR, point to the deep economic divide that mirrors Bihar’s broader social and developmental inequalities.Political analysts say the findings also raise important questions about the influence of money in state politics, the accessibility of electoral participation for the poor, and the link between wealth and political power.An ADR spokesperson said the data “reflects both the concentration of wealth among a few and the persistence of economic exclusion for others,” adding that transparency in financial declarations is key to building voter trust.Key Highlights From The ADR Report

• Report prepared by: Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) & Bihar Election Watch
• MLAs analysed: 241 out of 243
• Richest MLA: Neelam Devi (JD(U), Mokama) – Rs 80 crore+
• Second richest: Manorama Devi (JD(U), Belaganj) – Rs 72.8 crore
• Third richest: Ajit Sharma (Congress, Bhagalpur) – Rs 43.2 crore
• Poorest MLA: Ramvriksh Sada (RJD, Alauli) – Rs 70,000
• Others at bottom: Gopal Ravidas (CPI-ML-L, Phulwari) – Rs 1.59 lakh; Sandeep Saurav (CPI-ML-L, Paliganj) – Rs 3.45 lakh

Why It Matters Ahead Of Bihar PollsThe ADR findings came on 13th October, 2025, just days before Bihar votes in late 2025, setting the stage for a political contest marked not only by ideology but also by economic contrasts within the leadership.Observers say that the report may fuel debates on wealth accumulation among politicians, especially in a state where per capita income remains among the lowest in India.The ADR’s analysis of Bihar’s political wealth, much like its previous studies in other states, reinforces the importance of transparency and accountability as voters prepare to decide who governs next.