BJP received more than Rs 1,473 crores in recent polls: ECI

The latest expenditure statements filed with the Election Commission show a major contrast between the finances of the BJP and the Congress during the recent Assembly elections. The BJP received nearly Rs 1,473 crore at its central headquarters alone during the last five State Assembly elections — Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry — more than seven times the Rs 207 crore in net receipts reported by the Congress across its Central and State units.

The contrast is even more striking because the BJP figure covers receipts at its central headquarters alone. Its expenditure reports for Kerala and West Bengal are yet to be made public, which means that its consolidated receipts are likely to be higher. The two parties also emerged from the election period in sharply different financial positions. The BJP had Rs 6,722.6 crore at its central headquarters when the election period began on March 15. By May 6, its closing balance had climbed to Rs 7,627.2 crore. This is an increase of Rs 904.6 crore during the poll period, while the Congress moved in the opposite direction.

The Congress, whose consolidated expenditure report for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry had come earlier, reported net receipts of Rs 207.17 crore and an expenditure of Rs 248.55 crore during the March 15-May 6 election period. The BJP’s Rs 1,472.8-crore figure, by contrast, represents receipts at its central headquarters alone during the same period, according to its expenditure statements made public by the ECI. The party’s expenditure reports for Kerala and West Bengal polls are yet to be made public, meaning its consolidated receipts are likely to be higher.

On the other hand, the Congress’ finances saw a dip during the polls. Across its central headquarters and five state units, it began the election period with about Rs 169.06 crore (Rs 22.9 crore in cash and Rs 146.1 crore in bank accounts) and ended with about Rs 103.2 crore — a decline of Rs 65.86 crore.

The BJP's expenditure statements available so far show that it spent about Rs 159.7 crore in Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, of which around Rs 130.4 crore went towards general party propaganda and the rest towards candidates and related expenses. Assam accounted for the largest share, with an expenditure of Rs 96.27 crore.

Of this, Rs 76.73 crore was spent on general party propaganda and Rs 19.54 crore on candidates. Advertising and star campaigner travel dominated the general campaign bill, accounting for about Rs 37 crore and Rs 27.3 crore, respectively.

The party spent Rs 51.56 crore in Tamil Nadu, including Rs 44.51 crore on general propaganda and Rs 7.05 crore on candidates. Media advertisements accounted for about Rs 23.96 crore, while star campaigner travel cost about Rs 10.04 crore. Publicity material accounted for another roughly Rs 5.85 crore.

In Puducherry, the BJP reported an expenditure of Rs 11.90 crore — Rs 9.19 crore on general propaganda and Rs 2.71 crore on candidates. The Congress reported spending Rs 143 crore on general party propaganda and Rs 105.55 crore on candidates across all five States, taking its overall election expenditure to Rs 248.55 crore.

The Congress central headquarters spent Rs 40.52 crore on general propaganda across the five states, while its state and local units spent another Rs 102.49 crore under this head. Kerala, where the party ousted the Left Front from power, accounted for the biggest share of this expenditure at Rs 59.28 crore, followed by Assam at Rs 22.62 crore.