Alarmingly, 40% of sitting CMs face criminal cases, with several having serious charges against them. (Image: ADR)
A recent report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has pulled back the curtain on the financial and criminal backgrounds of India's state leaders. Based on 30 current Chief Ministers' self-sworn affidavits, the study shows a startling range of wealth, substantial liabilities, and an unexpected number of criminal prosecutions still outstanding against the nation's most powerful elected politicians.
At the top of the list is N. Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. He is by far the richest chief minister in the nation, with stated combined assets with his spouse totaling an incredible Rs 931 crore.
In addition to immovable assets like property and buildings valued at Rs 121 crore, his assets are mostly in movable forms, such as bonds, debentures, and shares, totaling over Rs 810 crore.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu is the second wealthiest, with declared assets totaling Rs 332 crore. Together, Naidu and Khandu are the only two 'billionaire' Chief Ministers in India (using the Indian numbering system where 100 crore equals 1 billion). Karnataka's Siddaramaiah follows distantly in third place with assets over Rs 51 crore.
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The ADR report highlights a consistent and substantial growth in the assets of these top leaders. Naidu's wealth saw a massive jump from Rs 177 crore in 2014 to his current Rs 931 crore. The value of his assets, which skyrocketed from Rs 111 crore to over Rs 767 crore in ten years, was a major motivator. Similarly, Pema Khandu's immovable assets grew from Rs 26 crore in 2014 to over Rs 167 crore.
At the other end of the spectrum is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She has declared assets valued at just over Rs 15 lakh, presenting a stark contrast to her counterparts at the top. Just above her is Jammu & Kashmir's Omar Abdullah with assets over Rs 55 lakh, and Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan with assets worth Rs 1.18 crore.
Wealth is only one side of the coin. The report also scrutinized declared liabilities. Eleven CMs have declared debts of Rs 1 crore or more. Topping this list is the wealthy Pema Khandu, with liabilities of Rs 180 crore. He is followed by Karnataka's Siddaramaiah (Rs 23 crore) and Andhra's Chandrababu Naidu (over Rs 10 crore).\
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The educational profile of the CMs is varied:
Perhaps the most alarming finding is the prevalence of criminal cases. The ADR report states that 12 out of 30 CMs (40%) have declared criminal cases against them. Of these, 10 face serious criminal charges. The report defines "serious" as offences carrying a maximum punishment of five years or more, non-bailable offences, electoral offences, corruption, and crimes against women.
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The ADR analysis is based on affidavits filed before previous state assembly elections, offering a crucial, transparent look into the profiles of those holding the highest offices in the states. It raises important questions about wealth accumulation, debt, and accountability in Indian politics.
