Richest and poorest CMs in India: Chandrababu Naidu, Pema Khandu billionaires, Mamata Banerjee at lowest end 


By contrast, Andhra Pradesh’s N Chandrababu Naidu retains his position as the wealthiest chief minister, with assets valued at more than Rs 931 crore.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee continues to be the poorest among all state heads in the country, with declared assets of just over Rs 15 lakh, according to a new report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The findings are based on affidavits filed by chief ministers before the last assembly elections they contested, including subsequent bypolls after December 2024.

By contrast, Andhra Pradesh’s N Chandrababu Naidu retains his position as the wealthiest chief minister, with assets valued at more than Rs 931 crore. Arunachal Pradesh’s Pema Khandu follows with declared assets of Rs 332 crore. These two leaders remain the only billionaires among the 31 chief ministers analysed, TOI reported.

Overall, the combined wealth of the 31 chief ministers stands at around Rs 1,630 crore, as per ADR’s compilation.

Banerjee’s affidavit, filed before the Bhowanipore by-election in September 2021, reveals that she had “cash in hand” of Rs 69,255 and a bank balance of Rs 13.5 lakh, which also included Rs 1.5 lakh in her election expenditure account.

Her filing also mentioned tax deducted at source (TDS) receivable of Rs 1.8 lakh for the financial year 2019–20 and jewellery weighing 9 grams, valued at Rs 43,837. Notably, the affidavit makes no mention of landed property or a residential house in her name.

The Trinamool Congress chief’s declared assets have declined over time. As per her income tax returns in 2020–21, Banerjee’s wealth was recorded at Rs 15.4 lakh. During the 2016 assembly elections, her assets stood at Rs 30.4 lakh.

At the other end of the spectrum, Jammu and Kashmir’s Omar Abdullah has assets worth Rs 55 lakh, while Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan is placed third from the bottom with a little over Rs 1 crore.

Commenting on the broader implications, Ujjaini Halim, coordinator for ADR in West Bengal and West Bengal Election Watch, said that once affidavits are filed with the Election Commission, they are forwarded to the income tax department.

“We are not sure if there is any scrutiny of the affidavits filed by any MP or MLA across the country. However, there are documents filed with the affidavit and we have to trust that,” she was quoted by TOI as saying.

She further noted that the rising cost of elections in India has made it increasingly challenging for candidates with modest means to contest.

“We have seen that money plays a vital role in the elections in India now. Election expenditures are on the rise and it is getting increasingly difficult for a candidate with a humble background to contest polls,” Halim said, as quoted by TOI.