An analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has highlighted striking disparities in the wealth of ministers across India. While some leaders declared assets worth thousands of crores, a few reported modest means, with Tripura’s Sukla Charan Noatia emerging as the poorest minister in the country.
Noatia, from the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura, declared assets worth just Rs 2 lakh. He was closely followed by West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda of the Trinamool Congress, who reported assets of just over Rs 3 lakh.
In sharp contrast, the richest minister is Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani of the TDP, representing Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur, with declared assets exceeding Rs 5,705 crore. Karnataka Congress leader and minister D.K. Shivakumar is next with wealth of over Rs 1,413 crore, followed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, with assets worth more than Rs 931 crore. Others in the top 10 include Narayana Ponguru, Nara Lokesh, Gaddam Vivekanand, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Suresha B S, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
According to ADR, the average assets of India’s 643 ministers stand at Rs 37.21 crore, with total assets amounting to nearly Rs 23,929 crore. Karnataka leads with eight billionaire ministers, followed by Andhra Pradesh (six) and Maharashtra (four). At the Union level, six of 72 council ministers—about 8%—are billionaires.
Party-wise, the BJP has the highest number of billionaire ministers at 14, though this is only 4% of its total. The Congress follows with 11 (18%), and the TDP has six (26%). Several regional parties, including the AAP, JD(S), NCP, Janasena Party and Shiv Sena, also have billionaire ministers.
The ADR report also flagged that nearly 47% of ministers face criminal cases, including serious charges like murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women. The findings coincide with the Centre’s introduction of bills to bar ministers arrested for 30 consecutive days on serious charges.
