BJP emerges richest party with ₹7,113-cr fund balance, Congress has ₹857 cr: ECI data-OxBig News Network

The BJP, which claims itself as the biggest political party in the world, has a whopping cash and bank balance of ₹7,113.80 crore against the principal opposition Congress party’s ₹857.15 crore as on March 31, 2024, according to figures provided to the Election Commission.

The BJP spent as much as ₹1,754.06 crore during 2023-24 when Lok Sabha elections were announced, a whopping 60% rise than ₹1,092 crore spent in 2022-23.

In comparison, the Congress spent as much as ₹619.67 crore during 2023-24, against ₹192.56 crore in 2022-23. The Lok Sabha elections were announced on March 16, 2024.

According to the figures provided to the EC in their annual audit reports, the BJP has received voluntary contributions through the now banned electoral bonds of ₹1,685.69 crore during 2023-24, against ₹1,294.15 crore in the previous year.

The ruling party has also shown having received other contributions to the tune of ₹2,042.75 crore during the year, against Rs 648.42 crore in the previous year 2022-23.

In its audit report to the EC, the Congress has shown having received total contributions of ₹1,225.11 crore during 2023-24, including ₹1,129.67 crore through grants, donations and contributions. This also includes ₹828.36 crore received through electronic bonds during the year ended March 31, 2024, which have now been banned by the Supreme Court.

During the year, the BJP spent Rs 591 crore in advertisements, including ₹434.84 crore in the electronic media and ₹115.62 crore in printed material.

The ruling party also spent ₹174 crore during 2023-24 on aircraft/helicopters, against ₹78.23 crore in 2022-23 and gave financial assistance of ₹191.06 crore to its candidates during the year in question, against ₹75.05 crore in the previous year.

The BJP spent ₹84.32 crore in meeting expenses during 2024 and ₹75.14 crore in organising morchas, rallies, andolan and call centre expenses during 2023-24.

The Congress, on the other hand, spent as much as ₹207.94 crore on the electronic media and ₹43.73 crore on printed material during 2023-24.

The opposition party also spent ₹62.65 crore on aircraft/helicopters during 2023-24 and gave financial aid of ₹238.55 crore to its candidates. It also spent ₹28.03 crore on publicity expenses and ₹79.78 crore on social media expenses during the year ended March 31, 2024.

The party also stated in its audit report that it spent ₹49.63 crore on the Bharat Jodo Yatra 2, led by former party chief Rahul Gandhi during 2023-24, against ₹71.84 crore spent on Bharat Jodo Yatra undertaken by him from Kanyakumari to Kashmir during 2022-23.