Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 9: Expenditure statements filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI) have provided details of the receipts, expenditure and balances of major political parties during the recent round of Assembly elections held between March 15 and May 6.
According to the statements, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reported net receipts of Rs 1,472.8 crore at its central headquarters alone during the period.
The BJP's closing balance at its central headquarters stood at Rs 7,627.2 crore on May 6, compared with Rs 6,722.6 crore on March 15, marking an increase of Rs 904.6 crore during the election period.
The party's expenditure statements for the Kerala and West Bengal Assembly elections are yet to be made public. The consolidated figures will be known once these reports are submitted and made available.
Meanwhile, the Congress submitted a consolidated expenditure statement covering its central unit and state units in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry.
The Congress reported net receipts of Rs 207.17 crore and expenditure of Rs 248.55 crore during the March 15-May 6 period.
At the beginning of the election period, the Congress had around Rs 169.06 crore across its central headquarters and the five state units, including Rs 22.9 crore in cash and Rs 146.1 crore in bank accounts.
By May 6, the combined balance had declined to around Rs 103.2 crore.
The figures are based on expenditure statements submitted by the political parties to the Election Commission under rules governing financial disclosures related to elections.
The statements provide a snapshot of funds received and spent by the respective party units during the specified election period covering the five states and the Union Territory that went to the polls.
The Election Commission makes such statements public as part of measures to ensure transparency in the financing of election campaigns.
Further details from individual state units and any remaining reports from political parties are expected to be released as the filing and scrutiny formalities are completed.