Agartala/Ukhrul, August 25: In a data twist worth noting, two chief ministers from India’s Northeast have emerged as some of the country’s richest leaders. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), after analysing the latest affidavits filed by state leaders, revealed that Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, with declared assets worth Rs 332.56 crore, is the nation’s second-wealthiest chief minister. Not far behind him, Nagaland’s veteran leader Neiphiu Rio, with assets amounting to Rs 46.95 crore, occupies the fourth position in the national ranking.
Pema Khandu, at just 44, is the wealthiest politician in the Northeast and a national figure when it comes to personal fortune. His affidavit reveals an impressive mix of movable and immovable assets, but it also shows liabilities of nearly Rs 180 crore. Interestingly, Khandu, who took over as chief minister in 2016, has since emerged as a central player in Arunachal’s politics, balancing both his political influence and his vast financial standing. According to ADR, his declared wealth places him ahead of most of his peers across the country, surpassed only by Andhra Pradesh’s Chandrababu Naidu, who tops the list with assets of over Rs 931 crore.
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Meanwhile, Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, now 72, offers a striking contrast. A seasoned politician and one of the most recognisable faces of Naga politics, Rio’s declared assets stand at Rs 46.95 crore, without significant liabilities. Unlike Khandu, whose fortune is tied with high liabilities, Rio’s financial disclosures suggest a more stable balance sheet. With multiple terms as chief minister behind him, his long career and steady financial standing make him one of the most prominent figures on the national wealth charts.
Notably, the Northeast’s representation in the list does not stop with these two. Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma, with Rs 17.27 crore in assets, ranks ninth, while Meghalaya’s Conrad K. Sangma, with Rs 14.06 crore, completes the top ten list. In comparison, Tripura’s Manik Saha declared assets worth Rs 13.90 crore, Mizoram’s Lalduhoma around Rs 4.13 crore, and Sikkim’s Prem Singh Tamang approximately Rs 6.69 crore. These figures highlight both the concentration of wealth among some leaders and the wide disparity among others in the region.
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According to the complete ADR list, India’s top ten richest chief ministers are led by N. Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh at Rs 931.84 crore, followed by Pema Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh at Rs 332.56 crore, Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah at Rs 51.93 crore, and Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland at Rs 46.95 crore. Others in the list include Madhya Pradesh’s Mohan Yadav, Puducherry’s N. Rangasamy, Telangana’s Revanth Reddy, Jharkhand’s Hemant Soren, Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Meghalaya’s Conrad K. Sangma.
Overall, the fact that two of the top four richest chief ministers in India come from the Northeast presents a striking paradox. The region, often viewed through the lens of economic backwardness and limited opportunities, is home to leaders with extraordinary personal fortunes.
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