NEW DELHI: The ruling BJP spent Rs 529.38 crore on the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, more than twice the Rs 248.55 crore spent by the Congress across the five polls, according to expenditure statements filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
West Bengal accounted for the largest share of the BJP’s spending, with the party alone spending Rs 286.99 crore in the state, which was more than the Congress’s combined expenditure across all five elections. The BJP spent Rs 82.67 crore in Kerala, Rs 96.26 crore in Assam, Rs 51.56 crore in Tamil Nadu and Rs 11.89 crore in Puducherry.
The BJP’s Bengal expenditure included Rs 217.16 crore on general campaigning and Rs 69.83 crore on candidates and related expenses. The party spent Rs 52.18 crore on travel by star campaigners and Rs 88.48 crore on media advertising.
Among the more unusual entries was Rs 4 lakh spent on “nail art” under public meetings, processions and rallies. The expense comes against the backdrop of BJP supporters in Bengal displaying party symbols, including the lotus, through nail art during the campaign.
In Assam, the BJP spent Rs 76.73 crore on general propaganda and Rs 19.53 crore on candidates. Travel by star campaigners accounted for Rs 27.32 crore, while media advertising cost Rs 36.99 crore. In Tamil Nadu, the party reported Rs 44.50 crore on general propaganda and Rs 7.05 crore on candidates. In Puducherry, the corresponding figures were Rs 9.18 crore and Rs 2.70 crore.
The BJP’s expenditure came as it registered significant electoral gains in several of these states. In Assam, it retained power with 60 seats on its own, as the NDA won 75 of the 126 seats. In West Bengal, the BJP emerged as the largest party with 207 seats. In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats and subsequently formed the government with allied support.
The NDA secured 18 seats in the 30-member Puducherry Assembly, while the Congress-led UDF won Kerala.
Unlike the BJP, which submitted state-wise expenditure figures, the Congress filed a consolidated report for all five elections. Out of its Rs 248.55 crore expenditure, Rs 143 crore went towards general propaganda and Rs 105.55 crore towards candidates. The party also spent Rs 22.5 crore on travel by star campaigners and other leaders, while media expenditure including print and electronic advertisements, bulk SMS, AI-enabled two-way voice calls and short videos and reels totaling Rs 92.52 crore.
In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) reported expenditure of Rs 197 crore, including Rs 47.95 crore on candidates and about Rs 149 crore on general propaganda.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), meanwhile, reported combined expenditure of Rs 112 crore for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala. Of this, Rs 109 crore was spent on party propaganda and Rs 2.78 crore on candidates.
The BJP also received Rs 1,473 crore during the period from the announcement of the five elections until the completion of polling, compared with Rs 207 crore received by the Congress.