BJP's income rises, Cong's shrinks

Ruling BJP increased its income by 81.18% in 2016-17 in comparison with the previous fiscal to Rs 1,034.27 crore while all four national parties, including the Congress, registered a decline in income, a report by an election watchdog said on Tuesday.

Besides the BJP, the report by Association for Democratic Rights (ADR) said, the other national parties that reported a rise in income during the period were Mayawati-led BSP and Sharad Pawar-led NCP. Along with the Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPM, and the CPI are the parties that saw their income shrinking during the period.

Altogether, seven national parties had an income of Rs 1,559.17 crore in 2016-17, of which 66.34% were accounted to BJP. Together, they had an expenditure of Rs 1,228.26 crore and most of them were election campaigning.

Analysing the returns filed with the Election Commission, the ADR said the BJP's income rose from Rs 570.86 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 1,034.27 crore in 2016-17. Similarly, BSP showed a whopping increase of 266.32% income from Rs 47.38 crore.

At the same time, the main opposition party Congress had a decrease in its income from to Rs 225.36 crore during the period. The Trinamool Congress, the ruling party in West Bengal, also had a decline in its income so as its arch rival CPM. The income of Trinamool Congress decreased by 81.52% (Rs 28.18 crore), CPM decreased by 6.72% (Rs 7.22 crore).

When it comes to expenditure, the BJP spent the highest amount of Rs 710.057 crore.

This was followed by the Congress at Rs 321.66 crore, which is Rs 96.30 crore more than its total income. The report showed that 70% of total income of BSP, 31% of of BJP and CPI and 6% of CPM was was declared unspent.

Most of the parties declared voluntary contribution as the major source of income. The BJP (Rs 997.12 crore) and the Congress (Rs 50.62 crore) declared donations/contributions as one of their three main sources of income.

The maximum expenditure for the BJP in 2016-17 was towards election and general propaganda, which amounted to Rs 606.64 crore followed by expenses towards administrative cost Rs 69.78 crore. Congress spent the maximum of Rs 149.65 crore on elections followed by expenditure of Rs 115.65 cr on administrative and general expenses.