The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allocated ₹529.38 crore towards its campaign efforts during the most recent round of Assembly elections held across five Indian states. Reports submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) reveal that more than half of this substantial expenditure was directed towards West Bengal.
West Bengal: A Major Focus of Expenditure
Of the total ₹529.38 crore spent by the BJP's central office during this election period, a significant ₹286.99 crore, approximately 54 percent, was incurred in West Bengal. This allocation underscores the strategic importance the party placed on the state during the polls.
The expenditure in West Bengal was further broken down: ₹217.16 crore was dedicated to general party propaganda, while ₹69.83 crore covered candidate-related expenses. A notable portion of this, ₹58.80 crore, was provided directly to candidates.
State-Wise Breakdown of Funds
Beyond West Bengal, the remaining funds were distributed among Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, which also went to polls concurrently. Assam received the second-largest share of the BJP's election spending, with ₹96.26 crore.
- Assam: ₹96.26 crore
- Kerala: ₹82.67 crore
- Tamil Nadu: ₹51.56 crore
- Puducherry: ₹11.89 crore
Puducherry recorded the smallest portion of the central party's election fund during this cycle.
BJP's Spending Outpaces Congress
The BJP's focused spending in West Bengal alone exceeded the total expenditure of the Congress party across all five contested states. ECI filings indicate that the Congress party spent a cumulative ₹248.55 crore during the same election period.
During this electoral cycle, the BJP also reported a substantial inflow of funds, receiving ₹1,494 crore in donations and other income. This left the party with a robust closing balance of over ₹7,689 crore in cash and bank balances. These expenditure figures encompass costs incurred or authorized by the central party office from the announcement of the polls until their completion in May, excluding spending by individual state units or candidates' separate limits.