New Delhi, September 9, 2026 : The BJP received nearly ₹1,473 crore at its central headquarters alone during the five-state Assembly election period, more than seven times the ₹207.17 crore in net receipts reported by the Congress across its central and state units, according to expenditure statements submitted to the Election Commission.
The figures cover the March 15 to May 6, 2026 election period in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry.
BJP Receipts Cross ₹1,472 Crore
The BJP’s central headquarters recorded receipts of approximately ₹1,472.8 crore during the period.
However, the figure is not yet the party’s complete consolidated election-period receipts because its expenditure statements for Kerala and West Bengal had not been made public at the time of the report. The BJP’s total receipts could therefore be higher once all statements are available.
The party also ended the election period with a substantially larger balance at its central headquarters.
Its closing balance increased from approximately ₹6,722.6 crore on March 15 to ₹7,627.2 crore on May 6, marking a rise of around ₹904.6 crore during the period.
Congress Finances Move in the Opposite Direction
The Congress reported ₹207.17 crore in net receipts across its central headquarters and five state units.
Its total election expenditure, however, stood at ₹248.55 crore, meaning spending exceeded reported net receipts during the period.
The party began the election period with approximately ₹169.06 crore — including around ₹22.9 crore in cash and ₹146.1 crore in bank accounts.
By May 6, its combined balance had fallen to approximately ₹103.2 crore, representing a decline of nearly ₹65.86 crore.
Where BJP Spent Its Election Money
The BJP’s expenditure statements available so far show spending of approximately ₹159.7 crore in Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Of this amount, around ₹130.4 crore went towards general party propaganda, while approximately ₹29.3 crore was spent on candidates and related expenses.
Assam
Assam accounted for the BJP’s largest reported expenditure among these three states, at approximately ₹96.27 crore.
- ₹76.73 crore — General party propaganda
- ₹19.54 crore — Candidates
- Around ₹37 crore — Advertising
- Around ₹27.3 crore — Star campaigner travel
Tamil Nadu
The BJP reported expenditure of approximately ₹51.56 crore in Tamil Nadu.
- ₹44.51 crore — General propaganda
- ₹7.05 crore — Candidates
- Around ₹23.96 crore — Media advertisements
- Around ₹10.04 crore — Star campaigner travel
- Around ₹5.85 crore — Publicity material
Puducherry
In Puducherry, the BJP reported spending approximately ₹11.90 crore.
- ₹9.19 crore — General propaganda
- ₹2.71 crore — Candidates
Congress Election Expenditure
The Congress reported total election expenditure of ₹248.55 crore across the five states.
Of this:
- ₹143 crore was spent on general party propaganda.
- ₹105.55 crore was spent on candidates.
The Congress central headquarters alone spent approximately ₹40.52 crore on general propaganda across the five states.
Its state and local units spent another ₹102.49 crore under the same category.
Kerala Accounted for Congress’ Biggest Propaganda Bill
Among the five states, Kerala recorded the Congress’ highest expenditure on general party propaganda, at approximately ₹59.28 crore.
It was followed by Assam, with ₹22.62 crore.
The figures provide a striking picture of the contrasting financial positions of the two major national parties during the 2026 Assembly election period — with the BJP reporting a substantially larger central financial base, while the Congress recorded a decline in its available funds.
