West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s declared income has risen by nearly 50% over the past five years, according to her election return filed on Wednesday along with her nomination from Bhabanipur constituency in south Kolkata. Track live updates on Bengal Assembly elections
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief declared an annual income of $23,21,570 for 2024-25, up from $15,47,845 in 2020-21. She has consistently maintained that her income comes from bank interest and royalties from her books.
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A TMC leader, who requested anonymity, said: “She is an MP for seven terms and a prime minister for three terms, but she has never received any salary. Her only source of income is bank interest and book royalties.”
Banerjee, known for her literary endeavours, has written 153 books in Bengali, English, Hindi and Urdu.
Its movable assets, including jewellery, saw a slight increase from… $15,37,509 five years ago to $16,72,352 now. No immovable assets were declared.
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Banerjee, a law graduate from Calcutta University, became the first chief minister to file her own application in the Supreme Court, challenging deletions from voter list after the Special Intensive Review (SIR) in the state.
Bhabanipur is gearing up for a high-stakes contest, with the BJP fielding senior leader Suvendu Adhikari against Banerjee. Adhikari had defeated her in Nandigram during the 2021 Lok Sabha elections.
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Adhikari’s affidavit shows that his annual income rises from $8,13,170 in 2020-21 to $17,38,590 in 2024-25, with earnings from business, MP pension and MLA salary. Its declared assets decreased during the same period, with assets transferred from… $59,31,647 in 2021 to $24,57,600 and immovable assets from $61,30,000 LBP $46,21,102.
