Guwahati: The BJP has a whopping cash and bank balance of Rs 7,113.80 crore as on March 31, 2024, according to figures provided to the Election Commission.
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.
The BJP, which claims to be the largest political party in the world, spent as much as 1,754.06 crore during 2023-24 when Lok Sabha elections were announced, a whopping 60 percent rise than Rs 1,092 crore spent in 2022-23.
In comparison, the Congress spent as much as Rs 619.67 crore during 2023-24, against Rs 192.56 crore in 2022-23.
The EC data further shows that the BJP has received voluntary contributions through the now-banned electoral bonds of Rs 1,685.69 crore during 2023-24, against Rs 1294.15 crore in the previous year.
The saffron 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 to the EC, the Congress has shown having received total contributions of Rs 1,225.11 crore during 2023-24, including Rs 1129.67 crore through grants, donations and contributions.
This also includes Rs 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 Rs 434.84 crore in electronic media and Rs 115.62 crore in printed material.
The ruling party also spent Rs 174 crore during 2023-24 on aircraft/helicopters, 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, against Rs 75.05 crore in the previous year.
The BJP spent Rs 84.32 crore on meeting expenses in 2024 and Rs 75.14 crore on organizing morchas, rallies, andolan and call centre expenses in 2023-24.
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.
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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.
