GUWAHATI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reported a significant cash and bank balance of ₹7,113.80 crore as of March 31, 2024.
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According to the data on annual audit reports provided by the Election Commission of India (ECI), this is in contrast to the Congress Party, which reported a balance of ₹857.15 crore during the same period.
In the financial year 2023-24, coinciding with the Lok Sabha elections announced on March 16, 2024, the BJP's expenditure surged to ₹1,754.06 crore, marking a 60% increase compared to ₹1,092 crore spent in 2022-23. In comparison, the Congress spent ₹619.67 crore in 2023-24, up from ₹192.56 crore in the previous financial year.
The BJP received a total of ₹1,685.69 crore in voluntary contributions via now-banned electoral bonds during 2023-24, an increase from ₹1,294.15 crore in 2022-23. Additionally, the ruling party showed other contributions amounting to ₹2,042.75 crore, significantly higher than the ₹648.42 crore received in 2022-23.
The Congress, on the other hand, reported total contributions of ₹1,225.11 crore during 2023-24. This included ₹828.36 crore received through electoral bonds, which were later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
The BJP also spent heavily on advertisements, allocating ₹591 crore in 2023-24, with ₹434.84 crore directed towards electronic media and ₹115.62 crore on printed material. The party additionally spent ₹174 crore on aircraft and helicopters, up from ₹78.23 crore in 2022-23, and ₹191.06 crore in financial aid to its candidates.
Meanwhile, the Congress allocated ₹207.94 crore to electronic media, ₹43.73 crore on printed material, and ₹62.65 crore on aircraft and helicopters. The party also provided ₹238.55 crore in financial assistance to its candidates.
