NEW DELHI: The ruling BJP spent Rs 1,754 crore nearly thrice as much as principal opponent Congress’ Rs 619 crore in 2023-24 when the country witnessed the 18th General Election.
Expenditure statements provided to the Election Commission by the political parties and published by the EC on Tuesday revealed that the BJP has a balance of a whopping Rs 7,113 crore in its accounts as on March 31, 2024 over eight times that of Congress’ Rs 857 crore.
While the BJP, which claims to be the largest political party in the world, spent 1,754 crore in 2023-24, it had, contrastingly, spent Rs 1,092 crore the year before in 2022-23. The Congress had in that year spent Rs 192.56 crore.
The EC data further shows that the BJP received Rs 1,685.69 crore during 2023-24 as voluntary contributions through the now defunct electoral bonds, as against Rs 1,294.15 crore in the previous year.
The ruling party has also disclosed in its accounts that it received other contributions amounting to Rs 2,042.75 crore during the year, as against Rs 648.42 crore in the previous year 2022-23.
In its audit report provided to the EC, the Congress has disclosed receipt of total contributions amounting to Rs 1,225.11 crore during 2023-24, including Rs 1,129.67 crore through grants, donations and contributions.
This includes Rs 828.36 crore received through electoral bonds during the year ended March 31, 2024, which have since been disallowed by the Supreme Court.
The BJP in 2023-24 spent Rs 591 crore in advertisements, including Rs 434.84 crore in electronic media and Rs 115.62 crore in print.
The ruling party also spent Rs 174 crore during 2023-24 on aircraft, helicopters, as against Rs 78.23 crore in 2022-23 and gave financial assistance of Rs 191.06 crore to its candidates during the year in question, as against Rs 75.05 crore in the previous year.
The BJP also spent Rs 84.32 crore in expenditure on organising poll meetings during 2023-24 and Rs 75.14 crore in organising rallies, andolan and call centre expenses.
The Congress spent Rs 207.94 crore — much less than BJP’s Rs 434.84 crore — on electronic media and Rs 43.73 crore on printed material during 2023-24.
The opposition Congress has further submitted an expenditure account of Rs 62.65 crore on aircraft/helicopters during 2023-24 and Rs 21.43 crore in 2022-23. The Congress gave financial aid of Rs 238.55 crore to its candidates for contesting elections.
The grand old party also spent Rs 28.03 crore on publicity expenses and Rs 79.78 crore on social media expenses during the year ended March 31, 2024.
The party has stated in its audit report that it spent Rs 49.63 crore on the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by former party chief Rahul Gandhi during 2023-24, and another Rs 71.84 crore on Bharat Jodo Yatra undertaken by him from Kanyakumari to Kashmir during 2022-23.