Tue Jan 28 12:01:18 UTC 2025: ## BJP’s Finances Dwarf Congress’ Ahead of 2024 Elections: Election Commission Data

**New Delhi, January 28, 2025** – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) significantly outspent and out-financed the Indian National Congress in the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, according to financial reports submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The data, released today, reveals a stark contrast in the financial resources of the two major parties.

As of March 31, 2024, the BJP boasted a cash and bank balance of ₹7,113.80 crore, compared to the Congress’s ₹857.15 crore. During the fiscal year 2023-24, the BJP’s expenditure soared to ₹1,754.06 crore – a 60% increase from the previous year – while the Congress spent ₹619.67 crore, a more than threefold increase from 2022-23.

A large portion of the BJP’s funds came from voluntary contributions, including ₹1,685.69 crore through now-banned electoral bonds. Other contributions totaled ₹2,042.75 crore. The Congress reported total contributions of ₹1,225.11 crore, including a significant amount through now-banned electronic bonds.

The BJP’s spending breakdown reveals significant investment in advertising (₹591 crore), aircraft/helicopters (₹174 crore), and financial assistance to candidates (₹191.06 crore). The Congress allocated substantial funds to electronic media advertising (₹207.94 crore), financial aid to candidates (₹238.55 crore), and the Bharat Jodo Yatra 2 (₹49.63 crore).

The significant financial disparity highlighted in these reports underscores the differing resource capabilities of India’s two leading political parties in the run-up to the crucial 2024 general elections. The ECI data provides a transparent view into the financial health and election spending of the BJP and Congress, offering valuable insights into the dynamics of India’s political landscape.

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