Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has sharply criticized the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments in the Northeast, pointing out a stark disparity between the personal wealth of its Chief Ministers and the developmental rankings of their states.
Citing a report by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), Gogoi highlighted that four NDA Chief Ministers from the Northeast feature among the top 10 richest Chief Ministers in India. However, their states perform poorly in Human Development Index (HDI) rankings.
“While 4 NDA Chief Ministers from Northeast India are in the top 10 richest Chief Minister list shared by the Association of Democratic Reforms (@adrspeaks), their states lag behind in Human Development Index rankings,” Gogoi said in a post on X.
Wealth vs Development
He took particular aim at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, ranked as the 7th richest CM with Assam ranking 31st on the UNDP HDI index.
“Looking at the sharp contrast between personal wealth and state development, it is clear that ‘Vikas’ is only for BJP. Is this the ‘development’ promised by the double engine BJP sarkar?” Gogoi questioned.
The ADR report for 2024 highlights the following wealth disparities:
- Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu ranks 2nd among the richest Chief Ministers with assets worth ₹332 crore. His state, however, is ranked 16th in HDI.
- Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio, the 4th richest CM with assets of ₹46 crore, presides over a state ranked 19th in HDI.
Congress Critique
Gogoi emphasized the disparity as evidence of skewed priorities under BJP leadership in the Northeast. His critique aligns with Congress’s larger narrative, accusing the BJP of focusing on personal wealth and power rather than equitable development.
The remarks have reignited political discourse on the performance of the BJP’s “double-engine” governments in balancing personal wealth with state development.