In a significant move towards transparency, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, along with all 25 members of his cabinet, publicly disclosed their movable and immovable assets on Wednesday. The declarations, a mandatory annual exercise for the state's ministers, were uploaded to the official government website, offering a detailed glimpse into the financial holdings of the state's top leadership.
Chief Minister's Portfolio: From Cash to Cattle
The Chief Minister declared total assets worth approximately Rs 1.65 crore, marking an increase of about Rs 68,455 from his declaration the previous year. According to the statement, Nitish Kumar's immediate liquidity includes Rs 20,552 in cash and close to Rs 57,800 deposited across various bank accounts.
His portfolio breaks down into movable assets valued at around Rs 17.66 lakh and immovable assets worth Rs 1.48 crore. The immovable property consists of a single residential flat located in a cooperative housing society in Dwarka, New Delhi. In a detail that stands out, the CM also declared ownership of 10 cows and 13 calves. His declared vehicle is a car valued at Rs 11.32 lakh.
Cabinet Colleagues: Higher Valuables and Varied Holdings
The disclosures revealed that several ministers possess asset values exceeding that of the Chief Minister. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary declared Rs 1.35 lakh in cash, while his wife, Kumari Mamta, holds Rs 35,000 in cash. Notably, Choudhary's assets include a rifle valued at Rs 4 lakh, and his immovable properties, including non-agricultural land, are collectively valued at a substantial Rs 4.91 crore.
Fellow Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha declared immovable assets worth Rs 48.46 lakh and also listed a revolver worth Rs 77,181.
Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist shooter, reported impressive movable assets exceeding Rs 1.53 crore and an income of over Rs 94 lakh for the 2024-25 financial year. Her declaration also mentions a gold bracelet valued at Rs 1 lakh.
Precious Metals and Spousal Wealth
The asset statements often highlighted significant holdings in gold and jewellery, particularly by spouses. Health Minister Mangal Pandey declared movable assets over Rs 1.32 crore, while his spouse, Urmila, holds movable assets worth over Rs 54 lakh. Intriguingly, Urmila owns more gold, declaring 680 grams along with 7 kg of silver, compared to the minister's 240 grams of gold.
A similar trend was seen with Panchayati Raj Minister Deepak Prakash. The first-time minister declared 15 grams of gold, whereas his spouse, Sakshi Mishra, declared 500 grams of gold and 5 kg of silver.
The annual disclosure, mandated to be submitted on the last day of each calendar year, was fulfilled by the cabinet this week. The cabinet secretariat department subsequently published the detailed statements in the prescribed format on the Bihar government's portals, upholding the state's transparency protocol for its elected officials.
