Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi launched a scathing attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of prioritizing personal wealth over state development. Gogoi’s remarks came in response to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which ranked Sarma among the richest chief ministers in India.
Highlighting Sarma’s unfulfilled promises, Gogoi said, “The Chief Minister pledged to place Assam among India’s top five developed states. Instead, he has climbed the ranks to become one of the richest CMs.”
The ADR report reveals that Sarma holds assets worth Rs.17 crore, making him the ninth wealthiest CM in the country. This contrasts sharply with Assam’s position at 31st on the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI). Gogoi pointed out the disparity, stating, “While Assam lags in development, BJP’s leadership seems to thrive in personal prosperity.”
The report ranked Andhra Pradesh’s Chandrababu Naidu as the richest CM, with assets exceeding Rs.931 crore, followed by Arunachal Pradesh’s Pema Khandu with Rs.332 crore. Meanwhile, West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee was the least wealthy, with assets of Rs.15 lakh.
Gogoi also noted that four NDA chief ministers from the northeast are among the top 10 wealthiest CMs. Despite this, their states struggle with low HDI rankings, exposing what Gogoi termed as the BJP’s hollow development claims.
He further questioned the BJP’s “double engine” governance model, suggesting it benefits the party’s leaders rather than the people. “Is this the development promised by the BJP? The sharp contrast between personal wealth and state progress speaks volumes,” Gogoi said.
The ADR report revealed that the average assets of India’s chief ministers are valued at Rs.52.59 crore, a stark disparity compared to the country’s per capita income of Rs.1.85 lakh.
Gogoi’s remarks have reignited debates over governance priorities, wealth disparities, and the true impact of BJP’s leadership in the region.
