The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has analysed the poll affidavits of all 30 incumbent chief ministers in India and found that 97% of them are crorepatis (millionaires). Andhra Pradesh’s Jagan Mohan Reddy is the wealthiest, with assets totalling over INR 510 crore ($68 million). West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee has the lowest total assets of about INR 15 lakh ($20,000).
Education Qualification of Chief Ministers
The ADR report also shows that most of the chief ministers are either graduates or post-graduates. 37% of the current chief ministers have declared themselves to be graduates, 14% as “graduate professionals”, and 30% as post-graduates. Three per cent of each of the CMs are Class 10 pass and doctorate and diploma holders. In addition, 10% of the CMs said they were “12th Pass”, according to their election affidavits.
Criminal Charges Against Chief Ministers
The ADR found that 43% of the CM had declared serious criminal charges pending against them. Serious criminal cases are non-bailable offences with over five years of imprisonment.
Wealthiest and Poorest Chief Ministers
After Andhra Pradesh’s Jagan Mohan Reddy, the next two wealthiest CM are Arunanchal Pradesh’s Pema Khandu (over INR 163 crore) and Odisha’s Naveen Pattnaik (over INR 63 crore). The three CMs with the lowest declared assets are West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee (over INR 15 lakh), Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan (over INR 1 crore) and Haryana’s Manohar Lal (over INR 1 crore).
AAP’s Campaign for PM Modi’s Degree
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has raised issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualifications after the Gujarat High Court set aside a Central Information Commission order asking Gujarat University to give Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal information on Modi’s degree. Posters asking for the PM’s degree to be shown have been put up in Delhi, and AAP leaders have addressed press conferences asking questions about PM Modi’s BA and MA degrees