Srinagar, Jul 29: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has declared the lowest assets among all 31 Chief Ministers in the country, with total assets worth ₹55 lakh, according to an analysis of election affidavits released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The report, based on the self-sworn affidavits filed by the Chief Ministers during their most recent Assembly elections, found that Omar Abdullah is one of only two Chief Ministers with declared assets of less than ₹1 crore. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has declared assets worth ₹85 lakh, while Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s assets stand at around ₹1 crore.
The ADR analysis also noted that Omar Abdullah has not declared any immovable property in his election affidavit.
In contrast, the average assets of the country’s 31 Chief Ministers stand at ₹118.07 crore, with their combined declared wealth amounting to nearly ₹3,660 crore.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar emerged as the wealthiest Chief Minister, with declared assets worth ₹1,413 crore. He was followed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu (₹931 crore), Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay (₹648 crore) and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu (₹332 crore).
These four are the only Chief Ministers with declared assets exceeding ₹100 crore.
According to the report, 15 Chief Ministers have declared assets between ₹11 crore and ₹49 crore, while only Omar Abdullah and Suvendu Adhikari have assets below ₹1 crore.
On liabilities, 11 Chief Ministers have declared dues exceeding ₹1 crore. D K Shivakumar tops the list with liabilities of ₹265 crore, followed by Pema Khandu with ₹180 crore and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with ₹16 crore.
Among the neighbouring states, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has declared assets worth ₹7.81 crore and liabilities of ₹22.42 lakh. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has assets of ₹5.80 crore and liabilities of ₹74.82 lakh, while Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has declared assets worth ₹5.31 crore and liabilities of ₹1.20 crore. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has declared assets of ₹1.97 crore and liabilities of ₹30.35 lakh.
The ADR report analyses the financial, criminal and educational backgrounds of all serving Chief Ministers using information disclosed in their election affidavits.
