If BJP’s annual income increased by 83 percent, Congress’s income increases by 170%, know who ahead in electoral bonds

New Delhi: The income of both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress of the Center has seen a huge increase in the last financial year. While the BJP’s earnings increased by 83 per cent to Rs 4340.5 crore, the income of the Congress increased by 170 per cent to Rs 1225 crore. Electoral bonds contributed to the income of both parties. BJP received Rs 16.85.6 crore through electoral bonds. On the other hand, Congress received Rs 828.4 crore through electoral bonds. This information has been received from the audit report submitted to the Election Commission by both the parties.

This is the highest annual income of BJP so far. This figure is also the highest among the amount received from the bonds declared by any party. The amount received from the income and bonds of the Congress is at number two in the case. BJP’s annual income increased by 83 per cent from Rs 2,360.8 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 4,340.5 crore in 2023-24. Out of this, Rs 1,685.6 crore came through electoral bonds. This information is received from the latest annual audit report of the party filed in the Election Commission.

During the same period, the income of Congress increased by Rs 452.4 crore to Rs 170 per cent to Rs 1,225 crore. The main opposition party also recorded a huge increase of 384 per cent in its receipts through bonds, which increased from Rs 171 crore in FY 23 to Rs 828.4 crore in FY 24. The Congress has the second highest income and receipts from bonds. In FY 24, BJP’s expenditure increased by 62 percent and Congress’s 120 percent.

The Congress surpassed BRS, which declared a total income of Rs 685.5 crore in 2023-24. TMC also lagged behind the main opposition party of the country this time. This time the Trinamool Congress received Rs 612.4 crore in a bond. Talking about the expenditure, BJP’s total expenditure in the last financial year stood at Rs 2,211.7 crore, which is 62 percent more than Rs 1,361.7 crore declared in 2022-23. Out of this, Rs 1,754 crore was spent on elections and general publicity.

The Congress spent an annual expenditure of Rs 1,025.2 crore in 2023-24, which is 120 per cent higher than Rs 467.1 crore in 2022-23. The party spent around Rs 49.6 crore on Rahul Gandhi’s India Jay Nyay Yatra, which took place between 14 January to 16 March 2024. At the same time, Rs 71.8 crore was spent on the first edition of his/her India Jigso Yatra, which was done from 7 September 2022 to 30 January 2023.

The BJP received a total of Rs 3967 crore as voluntary donations. In this, Rs 1685.6 crore was received from Electoral Bond, Rs 236.3 crore from Life Cooperation Fund and Rs 20242.7 crore from other sources. Individual donors contributed about Rs 240 crore, corporates contributed Rs 1890 crore, institutions and welfare institutions contributed Rs 101.2 crore and others Rs 50 crore.

The Congress received Rs 113.4 crore from individual donors, Rs 170 crore from corporate donors, Rs 6.4 crore from electoral trust and foundation, Rs 828.4 crore from bonds and Rs 11.4 crore from other sources. Apart from this, the party earned Rs 22 crore from the membership and the release of coupons and the sale of publications and Rs 58.5 crore.

According to the BJP’s audit report, the party spent Rs 1195 crore on advertising and publicity, Rs 196.8 crore on travel and financial assistance to candidates. By 31 March, 2024, BJP had Rs 109.2 crore cash, Rs 1627.2 crore as bank balance and Rs 5377.3 crore as fixed deposit. On the same date last year, BJP had Rs 42 crore cash, Rs 311 crore bank balance and Rs 5071.4 crore fixed deposit.

The Congress spent Rs 4.9 crore on pre-election surveys in 2023-24. Last year, this expenditure was Rs 40.1 crore. This information has been received from the annual audit report submitted by both parties to the Election Commission. The report gives details of income and expenditure for the financial year 2023-24.