BJP’s Rs 2,212 Crore Expenditure in FY24 Dwarfs Combined Spending of All National Parties: ADR Report

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New Delhi, February 26, 2025 – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spent a staggering Rs 2,212 crore in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), nearly double the combined expenditure of all national political parties in India, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The expenditure underscores the party’s financial dominance, as it also accounted for 75% of the total income declared by national parties during the same period.


The ADR report, released earlier this month, revealed that the six recognized national parties—BJP, Indian National Congress (INC), Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and National People’s Party (NPEP)—collectively reported a total income of Rs 5,820.91 crore in FY24. Of this, the BJP alone declared an income of Rs 4,340.47 crore, dwarfing the earnings of its peers. The Congress, the second-highest earner, reported Rs 1,225.12 crore, while the remaining four parties together accounted for less than 7% of the total income.


The BJP’s expenditure of Rs 2,212 crore in FY24—representing 50.96% of its declared income—far exceeded the combined spending of the other five national parties, which amounted to approximately Rs 1,106 crore. According to the ADR, the bulk of the BJP’s spending, Rs 1,754 crore, was directed toward election campaigns and general propaganda, reflecting its aggressive push during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which saw the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secure a third term. The party also allocated Rs 349 crore to administrative costs, with the remainder covering miscellaneous expenses.


In contrast, the Congress spent Rs 1,025.25 crore—83.69% of its income—with Rs 619.67 crore going toward election-related expenses and Rs 340.70 crore on administrative costs. The CPI(M) reported an expenditure of Rs 127.28 crore (75.93% of its Rs 167.63 crore income), while the BSP spent Rs 43.18 crore (66.67% of its Rs 64.77 crore income). The AAP and NPEP, with smaller financial footprints, spent Rs 92.14 crore and Rs 1.13 crore, respectively.
The BJP’s financial muscle was further highlighted by its income sources, with Rs 3,967.14 crore—91.4% of its total earnings—coming from voluntary contributions, including Rs 1,685.63 crore through electoral bonds before the Supreme Court declared the scheme unconstitutional in February 2024. The Congress, meanwhile, raised Rs 1,129.66 crore from donations and Rs 828.36 crore via electoral bonds, while the AAP secured Rs 22.13 crore, including Rs 10.15 crore from bonds.
Opposition leaders have seized on these figures to criticize the BJP’s financial dominance. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh remarked on X, “The BJP’s spending spree shows how skewed the playing field has become—democracy can’t thrive under such disparity.” AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj echoed this sentiment, alleging that the BJP’s funds reflect “corporate favoritism” rather than grassroots support.
The ADR report also noted delays in financial transparency, with the BJP, Congress, and CPI(M) submitting their audit reports to the Election Commission between 12 and 66 days late, while BSP, AAP, and NPEP met the October 31, 2024 deadline. Analysts suggest that the BJP’s financial edge, coupled with its electoral success, positions it as a formidable force ahead of upcoming state polls, though questions linger about the implications for democratic equity.
As India’s political landscape evolves, the BJP’s unprecedented spending and income in FY24 highlight its unrivaled resource mobilization, setting the stage for heated debates about funding fairness in the world’s largest democracy.
More details to follow as the ADR’s findings continue to spark reactions across the political spectrum.