Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi has criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for prioritizing personal wealth over the development of the state. Gogoi’s remarks came after a report from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) revealed Sarma’s assets are valued at approximately Rs 17 crore, ranking him as one of the wealthiest chief ministers in India.

Gogoi questioned the contradiction between Sarma’s growing wealth and his promises to make Assam one of the top five most developed states. He highlighted the state’s low ranking on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI), where Assam stands at 31st, suggesting a stark disparity between the Chief Minister’s fortunes and the state’s actual development progress.

Sarma is ranked 7th on the list of India’s richest chief ministers, according to the ADR report, which also pointed out that while the Chief Minister amasses wealth, Assam continues to face significant developmental challenges. Gogoi raised concerns about the BJP-led government’s priorities, questioning whether this is the “development” promised under the “double-engine” BJP leadership.

The ADR report also noted that Andhra Pradesh’s N. Chandrababu Naidu tops the list with assets exceeding Rs 931 crore, while West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee is among the poorest, with assets worth just Rs 15 lakh. The report underscored the growing wealth disparity, with the average wealth of chief ministers significantly surpassing India’s national per capita income.