BJP or Congress? Which is the richest political party in India – Election Commission data reveals

The BJP, which positions itself as the world’s largest political party, reported a substantial cash and bank balance of Rs 7,113.80 crore, significantly higher than the Congress party’s Rs 857.15 crore as of March 31, 2024, according to figures submitted to the Election Commission.

During the financial year 2023-24, the BJP spent Rs 1,754.06 crore, a 60% increase from Rs 1,092 crore in 2022-23, coinciding with the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections in March 2024. In comparison, Congress spent Rs 619.67 crore in 2023-24, up from Rs 192.56 crore in the previous year.

Where did BJP and Congress receive contributions from?

The BJP’s funding included Rs 1,685.69 crore from voluntary contributions through electoral bonds, which were banned later, marking a rise from Rs 1,294.15 crore in 2022-23. Additionally, the BJP received Rs 2,042.75 crore in other contributions, up from Rs 648.42 crore in the previous year.

In its audit report, Congress reported receiving a total of Rs 1,225.11 crore in contributions, with Rs 1,129.67 crore coming from grants, donations, and other sources. This also included Rs 828.36 crore via electronic bonds, which were banned by the Supreme Court.

How much did BJP and Congress spend on advertising and media? 

In terms of expenditure, the BJP allocated Rs 591 crore for advertising, including Rs 434.84 crore for electronic media and Rs 115.62 crore for print media. It also spent Rs 174 crore on aircraft and helicopters, compared to Rs 78.23 crore in 2022-23, and provided Rs 191.06 crore in financial assistance to its candidates, up from Rs 75.05 crore in the previous year.

Congress, on the other hand, spent Rs 207.94 crore on electronic media and Rs 43.73 crore on print media. It also spent Rs 62.65 crore on aircraft and helicopters and provided Rs 238.55 crore to its candidates. 

Additionally, Congress allocated Rs 28.03 crore for publicity and Rs 79.78 crore for social media expenses. The party also spent Rs 49.63 crore on the Bharat Jodo Yatra 2, led by Rahul Gandhi, compared to Rs 71.84 crore on the original Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in 2022-23.