NEW DELHI: Rising income of the ruling BJP has truly reflected in its spending in last few years. Unlike the Congress party which has to cut into its expenditure due to successive decline in its income, the saffron brigade spent a lot for different activities of the party in last few years.
Whether it is press conferences or public meetings, rallies or advertisements, documents have revealed that the party has more than doubled its expenditure in last few years. However, all these efforts have only proved fruitful for the party as it has continuously spread its presence in most parts of the country by successfully winning polls after polls in many states.
Analysis of the documents of ‘Income and Expenditure’ by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) disclosed that between FY 2015-16 and 2016-17, the income of BJP increased by 81.18% (Rs 463.41 crore) from Rs 570.86 crore during FY 2015-16 to Rs 1,034.27 crore during FY 2016-17.
Expenditure of the BJP between the two years also rose accordingly. The saffron party spent Rs 438 crore during the year 2015-16 and next year (2016-17) it went up to Rs 710 crore.
The maximum expenditure for BJP during FY 2016-17 was towards election or general propaganda which amounted to Rs 606.64 crore followed by expenses towards administrative cost, Rs 69.78 crore. Similarly, in the previous year, the maximum expenditure for BJP was towards election or general propaganda which amounted to Rs 359.08 crore followed by expenses towards administrative costs, Rs 36.09 crore.
A close look at the documents regarding assets and expenditure by the BJP has disclosed that the party did not hesitate to spend on those things which were needed for party’s expansion and its outreach activities in parts of the country. Like, expenditure regarding ‘morchas and rallies’ in the year 2015-16 was Rs 23 crore and it registered sharp rise of over 300 % going up to Rs 79 crore during next year 2016-17.
Similarly, expenditure on meetings also rose by more than 100 % as it went up to Rs 53 crore (2016-17) from Rs 25 crore (2015-16). The BJP also spent a lot in advertisement and publicity as it was trying to strengthen its reach in every nook and corner of the country including southern and north-eastern parts of the country. The spending under this head registered rise of Rs 100 crore, from Rs 164 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 264 crore in the next year.
Under its massive outreach programme, party held press conferences in states during campaigning of the state polls. Spending on holding media conferences during the year 2015-16 was Rs 47 lakh and it went up to Rs 88 lakh in the next year.
BJP insiders said that party doesn’t hesitate to spend on those things which are needed for winning polls. “In last few years, the BJP has become largest party in the world having maximum number of members. Its presence has spread across the country. The party is winning elections after elections. When family becomes larger, it is quite natural that the expenditure will also increase,” said a party insider.
| CATEGORY | 2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | |
| 1 | Advertisement &Publicity | 164 crore | 264 crore |
| 2 | Travelling | 84 crore | 156 crore |
| 3 | Meetings expenses | 25 crore | 53 crore |
| 4 | Press Conferences | 47 lakh | 88 lakh |
| 5 | Morcha/Rally expenses | 23 crore | 79 crore |
| INCOME | 570.86 crore | 1034.27 crore | |
| EXPENDITURE | 438.80 crore | 710 crore |