With Just around Rs 11K, is Manik Sarkar India's poorest CM?

, Feb 7: Manik Sarkar, who has been the

chief minister for 15 years and is leading the CPI(M) in upcoming elections, is perhaps India's poorest chief minister.

Keeping in line with his party policy, Sarkar gives away his salary and allowances to the CPI(M), which pays him Rs 5,000 as subsistence allowance to run his family.

In 2008, Sarkar's cash in hand and bank deposits totalled Rs 16,120. According to his latest election affidavit, this amount has come down to Rs 10,800.

Sarkar's wife, a retired central government employee, has Rs 22,015 in hand. She has another Rs 24,52,395 in banks. Of this, Rs 18,930 and Rs 84,118 are in two savings accounts.

The rest of the money, mostly retirement benefits, is in the form of fixed deposits. The Sarkars have no children.

After the death of his mother Anjali Sarkar in 2009, Sarkar inherited a small house in Agartala. He donated it to a kin.

IANS