BJP accounts for nearly 45% of total expenditure in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, state polls: ADR

The Congress followed next with Rs 620 crore or 18.5 per cent of the total expenses among the 32 national and regional parties whose records were analysed, the ADR said.

New Delhi: Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received the highest donations and spent the most among 32 national and regional parties during Lok Sabha elections and simultaneous polls to four states last year, a report by a private election watchdog said on Friday.

BJP received Rs 6,268 crore as donation or 84.18% of Rs 7,445.56 crore, much above what its main opponent Congress received from its donors -- Rs 592.48 crore or 7.96% of the total donations received by the 32 parties, which have submitted their accounts to the Election Commission. Altogether, five national parties got Rs 6930.24 crore (93.08%) as donations while regional parties got Rs 515.32 crore (6.92%).

These two parties were followed by YSR-Congress Rs 171.753 crore (2.31%), TDP Rs 107.93 crore (1.45%) and CPI(M) Rs 62.74 crore (0.84%) in receiving donations.

When it comes to expenditure, BJP once again tops the list at  Rs 1,493.91 crore or 44.56% of Rs 3,352.81 crore spending by all the parties. Congress was a distant second at Rs 620.14 crore or 18.50% of the total expenditure.

National parties spent Rs 2204.31 crore (65.75%) while regional parties spent Rs 1148.49 crore (34.25%). The other main parties that spent the most were YSR Congress Rs 325.67 crore (9.71%), BJD  Rs 278.03 crore (8.29%) and Trinamool Congress Rs 147.68 crore (4.40%).

An analysis of expenditure showed that spending under 'publicity' topped the list with the parties spending Rs 2,008.29 crore (53.52%) of their total declared expenditure on it. Travel expenses were pegged at Rs 795.41 crore while Rs 402.17 crore was spent in lump-sum payments to candidates. 

On digital campaigns, parties spent Rs 132.08 crore while Rs 28.25 crore was spent on publishing the criminal antecedents of their candidates. Interestingly, BJD topped the list with Rs 83.03 crore spending on digital campaign followed by Congress Rs 47.69 crore and BJP Rs 1.06 crore.

BJP spent the highest in publicity at Rs 983.92 crore, including Rs 715.54 crore in advertisements, Rs 187.68 crore for publicity material and Rs 80.69 crore in public meetings. Congress spent a total of Rs 422.05 crore on advertisements, Rs 73.72 crore for publicity material and Rs 7.19 crore in public meetings. 

The report also showed that Rs 795.41 crore was spent on travel by the parties. Of this, BJP spent Rs 439.46 crore on travel expenses for its star campaigners while for Congress, it was Rs 112.53 crore.

The parties are required to file mandatory expenditure statements with the Election Commission (EC) within 90 days of a Lok Sabha election and 75 days of an Assembly poll. The report said the AAP statement arrived 168 days late and the BJP's between 139 and 154 days, depending on the state.