The cow connect

Patna, Jan. 2: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad may have different style of functioning but they share a common love for cows.

Till 2010, Nitish was the proud owner of a one cow and a calf. Now, he has two cows and three calves, says the asset documents submitted by him.

Lalu’s love for bovines was an open secret when he was at the helm of affairs in Bihar. He had a well-maintained cowshed at the official residence of the chief minister. The practice continued when his better half, Rabri Devi, became the chief minister in 1997 and remained on the chair till 2005.

As far as other assets are concerned, Nitish has virtually made no new additions to what he has since 2010.

Nitish’s deputy Sushil Kumar Modi appears to be doing better than his boss in terms of additions to movable assets. According to Modi’s bank account details, he had Rs 10 lakh-plus amount in his name under different heads in 2010. The figures have improved by about 40 per cent and Modi, at present, has Rs 14 lakh in different banks.

Water resources department minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary appears to be in a habit of saving his earnings. His bank account in Patna has seen a jump from Rs 1.83 lakh in 2010 to Rs 9.11 lakh now.

Energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav appears to have developed an interest in investing money in mutual funds and shares. He had zero investment under this head till 2010 even though he was a minister for five years during NDA I. In the second term, Bijendra has invested Rs 4.99 lakh in mutual funds.

Transport minister Brishen Patel has become poorer by Rs 1 lakh. He had Rs 5 lakh cash in hand in 2010 which has now shrunk to Rs 4 lakh.

Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey’s net worth has gone up from Rs 41 lakh to Rs 59 lakh. His wife, Neeta Choubey, too is doing quite well and her net worth has gone from Rs 53 lakh to Rs 75 lakh in one year.

P.K. Shahi, who holds the education portfolio, has grown richer. He had around Rs 70 lakh in different banks in 2010. The figure went up to Rs 90 lakh in 2011.

Social welfare minister Parveen Amanullah appears to have taken out time from her busy schedule for buying gold jewellery after becoming a minister last year. She was owner of 700g gold jewellery in 2010. Now, she has 830g gold jewellery.

Art and culture minister Sukhda Pandey’s appears to have developed saving habits as is reflected by one of her bank accounts. This account had a little over Rs 7,000 in 2010. The current balance stands at Rs 7.5 lakh.

Tourism minister Sunil Kumar Pintu had Rs 2.14 lakh cash in 2010. The figure has increased to Rs 5 lakh now.