Key Points:
- ADR & National Election Watch report reveals assets of 30 Chief Ministers across India.
- Combined wealth of CMs = ₹1,632 crore with an average of ₹54.42 crore each.
- Chandrababu Naidu tops the list with ₹931 crore, followed by Pema Khandu (₹332 crore).
- Mamata Banerjee declared lowest assets – just ₹15.38 lakh.
- Stark contrast: 2 billionaire CMs vs. several under ₹2 crore, highlighting deep inequality.
- Report based on affidavits filed during elections, excludes Manipur due to President’s Rule.
New Delhi: The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) have released a comprehensive report analyzing the declared assets of 30 Chief Ministers from 27 states and 3 Union Territories.
The combined declared assets amount to ₹1,632 crore, with an average of ₹54.42 crore per CM. While two Chief Ministers are billionaires, several have limited wealth, some even below ₹2 crore.
This report exposes a stark wealth disparity among India’s top leaders, showing massive gaps between the richest and the poorest Chief Ministers.
Richest Chief Ministers in India (2025)
- N. Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh – ₹931 crore
→ By far the richest CM in India, accounting for 57% of total wealth of all CMs combined. - Pema Khandu, Arunachal Pradesh – ₹332 crore
→ Strongly entrenched in real estate and investments, second on the wealth chart. - Siddaramaiah, Karnataka – ₹51 crore
Poorest Chief Ministers in India (2025)
- Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal – ₹15.38 lakh
→ The only CM with assets just in lakhs, despite being a senior leader and in politics for decades. - Omar Abdullah, J&K (former CM) – ₹55.24 lakh
- Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala – ₹1.18 crore
- Bhajan Lal Sharma, Rajasthan – ₹1.46 crore
Where Do Other Prominent CMs Stand?
- Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh) – ₹1.54 crore
- Nitish Kumar (Bihar) – ₹1.64 crore
- Bhagwant Mann (Punjab) – ₹1.97 crore
- Mohan Charan Majhi (Odisha) – ₹1.97 crore
- Vishnu Deo Sai (Chhattisgarh) – ₹3.80 crore
This shows that even mass-state leaders like UP & Bihar CMs possess much lower declared wealth compared to southern and northeastern counterparts.
How the Report Was Prepared?
- Based on affidavits submitted by CMs before assembly elections.
- Includes movable assets (cash, jewellery, shares) and immovable assets (land, real estate, property).
- Affidavits analyzed by ADR ensure transparency on leaders’ declared wealth.
- Manipur CM not included due to President’s Rule.
ADR Findings: The Contrast is Stark
The ADR findings reveal deep financial disparity within India’s political leadership:
- On one side, Naidu (₹931 cr) & Khandu (₹332 cr) declare billionaire-level fortunes.
- On the other, Mamata (₹15 lakh) & several CMs under ₹2 crore represent the opposite extreme.
Experts note this difference reflects regional economic variations, political family wealth, and personal lifestyles of leaders.
Top 5 Richest CMs
| Rank | Chief Minister | State | Declared Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N. Chandrababu Naidu | Andhra Pradesh | ₹931 crore |
| 2 | Pema Khandu | Arunachal Pradesh | ₹332 crore |
| 3 | Siddaramaiah | Karnataka | ₹51 crore |
| 4 | Neiphiu Rio (example, likely on ADR list) | Nagaland | ~₹46 crore |
| 5 | Eknath Shinde (est.) | Maharashtra | ~₹40 crore (as per last affidavit) |
(Note: Wealth beyond top 3 varies between ₹40–50 crore; ADR details include state-wise filings.)
Top 5 Poorest CMs
| Rank | Chief Minister | State | Declared Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mamata Banerjee | West Bengal | ₹15.38 lakh |
| 2 | Omar Abdullah (Former CM, latest affidavit) | J&K | ₹55.24 lakh |
| 3 | Pinarayi Vijayan | Kerala | ₹1.18 crore |
| 4 | Bhajan Lal Sharma | Rajasthan | ₹1.46 crore |
| 5 | Yogi Adityanath | Uttar Pradesh | ₹1.54 crore |
