POOREST CHIEF MINISTER OF INDIA

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who has served five continuous terms as the CM since 1998 continues to remain the poorest serving CM in the country. The veteran CPI leader made his financial details public while filing nomination papers for the upcoming assembly polls in the state. As per his latest affidavit, he has a bank balance of just Rs 2410 as of January 20 this year. Interestingly, the amount is significantly less than Rs 9,720, which he had in his bank account when he made his financial details public during the last elections in 2013. Sarkar also claims to have a non-agricultural land measuring 0.0118 acre, jointly owned with his siblings, the only inherited movable asset. The 69 year old leader donates his entire salary drawn in the capacity of CM to the party fund. And, he receives a monthly allowance of Rs 10,000 from the party fund for his livelihood. He still does not carry a mobile phone and does not have any social media presence.

According to his election declaration, his wife Panchali Bhattacharjee, a retired state government employee has a total of Rs 12 lakhs in her bank accounts. Sarkar and his wife live in the official CM residence, they don't even have a personal residence. The CM's wife is often spotted travelling in auto-rickshaw like most others.