Agartala, Feb 7 (IANS): Manik Sarkar, who has been the Tripura 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 Communist Party of India-Marxist, 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.