The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spent about Rs 1,494 crore during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which is 44.56 percent of the total expenditure. This information was given by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Friday (June 20, 2025). ADR has analyzed the electoral expenses of 32 national and regional parties.
According to the ADR report, the Congress is at number two after the BJP with Rs 620 crore, which is 18.5 percent of the party’s total expenditure. These parties spent a total of Rs 3,352.81 crore between (March 16 to June 6, 2024) during the assembly elections held simultaneously in Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim.
National parties raised Rs 6,930.246 crore
The share of national parties in this expenditure was more than Rs 2,204 crore (65.75 percent). The report said that national parties raised Rs 6,930.246 crore (93.08 percent), while regional parties received Rs 515.32 crore (6.92 percent). This analysis is based on compulsory expenditure details, which political parties have to file within 90 days of the general election and within 75 days of the assembly elections. ADR said that there has been a lot of delay in filing the details.
According to the report, the Commission got the details of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with a delay of 168 days, while the BJP got the details of 139 to 154 days late. According to the ADR, only the Congress submitted a consolidated report for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
How much did the parties spend on the election campaign through digital means?
According to the ADR report, the journey costs after this, which was Rs 795 crore. At the same time, the candidates spent Rs 402 crore as a lump sum payment. The parties spent Rs 132 crore on the election campaign through digital and spent Rs 28 crore on publishing the criminal background of their candidates.
These parties did not give details
Travel expenses were more on star campaigners. Out of Rs 795 crore, Rs 765 crore (96.22 percent) was spent on the party’s high-profile leaders’ visit, while only 30 crore rupees were spent on other leaders. While preparing the report, details of the expenses of 21 parties including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Shiv Sena (Ubatha) were not available on the Election Commission website.
Expenditure details of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) Party, KC (M) were not available for the 2024 assembly elections held in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha. Meanwhile, two parties Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Kerala Congress (M) declared zero expenditure despite contesting elections.
ADR also mentioned that a total of 690 non-recognized political parties took part in the general election held last year. The ADR also appealed to the Election Commission to appoint an observer to monitor the expenses of political parties.
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