According to Section 78 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every contesting candidate has to lodge a true copy of his election expenses within 30 days from the date of declaration of result of election, with the District Election Officer in all States and Union Territories. Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Kerala Election Watch have analysed all 140 election expenditure statements submitted after the Kerala Assembly Election 2026 for newly elected MLAs. The expenditure limit for the MLAs during the Kerala Assembly elections was Rs. 40 lakhs. These election expense documents include details of expenses on public meetings and processions, campaigning through electronic and print media, expense on campaign workers, expense on vehicles used, expense on virtual campaign, expense on publishing of declaration regarding criminal cases and expense on campaign materials.

Summary and Highlights of Election Expenses of MLAs

• Less than 60% of the Limit: The candidate expenditure limit for Kerala assembly elections 2026 was Rs 40 lakhs. Out of 140 MLAs analysed, 42 (30%) MLAs have declared election expenses less than 60% of the expense limit in their constituency.
• Average Election Expenses: Based on the election expense declarations of 140 MLAs from Kerala Assembly, the average amount of money spent by them in the elections is Rs 26.89 lakhs, which is 67% of the expense limit.
• Party-wise Average Election Expenses: The party wise average election expenses shows that the average spending for 63 MLAs from INC is Rs.29.09 lakhs (72.7% of the expense limit). For 26 MLAs from CPI(M), the average election expenditure is Rs.24.38 lakhs (61% of the expense limit), for 22 MLAs from Indian Union Muslim League, the average election expenditure is Rs.26.04 lakhs (65.1% of the expense limit), for 8 MLAs from CPI, the average election expenditure is Rs.23.12 lakhs (57.8% of the expense limit), for 7 MLAs from Kerala Congress, the average election expenditure is Rs.26.94 lakhs (67.4% of the expense limit), for 3 MLAs from BJP, the average election expenditure is Rs.29.56 lakhs (73.9% of the expense limit), for 3 MLAs from Revolutionary Socialist Party, the average election expenditure is Rs.24.52 lakhs (61.3% of the expense limit), for 1 MLA from Communist Marxist Party Kerala State Committee, the election expenditure is Rs.34.85 lakhs (87.1% of the expense limit), for 1 MLA from RJD, the election expenditure is Rs.23.94 lakhs (59.9% of the expense limit), for 1 MLA from Kerala Congress (Jacob), the election expenditure is Rs.21.99 lakhs (55% of the expense limit), for 1 MLA from Revolutionary Marxist Party of India, the average election expenditure is Rs.21.39 lakhs (53.5% of the expense limit) and for 4 Independent MLAs, the average election expenditure is Rs.21.83 lakhs (54.6% of the expense limit).

• Expense on Public Meeting, Rally, and Processions with Star Campaigners (other than those for general party propaganda): Out of the 140 MLAs analyzed, 111 (79%) MLAs have declared that they have spent funds on public meetings, processions etc. with star campaigners (other than those for general party propaganda) and 29 (21%) MLAs have declared that they have not spent any funds on public meetings, processions etc. with star campaigners (other than those for general party propaganda).
• Expense on Public Meeting, Rally, and Processions without Star Campaigners (other than the ones with star campaigners of the political party): Out of the 140 MLAs analyzed, 134 (96%) MLAs have declared that they have spent funds on public meetings, processions etc. without star campaigners (other than the ones with star campaigners of the political party) and 6 (4%) MLA has declared that He has not spent any funds on public meetings, processions etc. without star campaigners (other than the ones with star campaigners of the political party).
• Expense on Campaigning through electronic/print media: 118 (84%) MLAs have declared that they have spent funds on campaigning through electronic/print media and 22 (16%) MLAs have declared that they have not spent any funds on campaigning through electronic/print media.
• Expense on Campaign Workers: 139 (99%) MLAs have declared that they have spent funds on campaign workers and 1 (1%) MLA has declared that He has not spent any funds on campaign workers.
• Expense on Campaign Materials: All 140 (100%) MLAs have declared that they have spent funds on campaign materials.
• Expense on Campaign Vehicles: 139 (99%) MLAs have declared that they have spent funds on campaign vehicles and 1 (1%) MLA has declared that they have not spent any funds on campaign vehicles.
• Expense on Virtual Campaign: 54(39%) MLAs have declared that they have spent funds on virtual campaigns and 86 (61%) MLAs have declared that they have not spent any funds on virtual campaigns.
• Expense on Publishing of Declaration Regarding Criminal Cases: Out of the 114 MLAs analysed with declared criminal cases, 112 (98%) MLAs have declared that they have spent funds on publishing of declarations regarding criminal cases and 2 (2%) MLAs have declared that they have not spent any funds on publishing of declarations regarding criminal cases.

Summary and Highlights of Sources of Funds Raised by MLAs

• Percentage Breakdown of funds Raised by MLAs: Out of the total funds received by MLAs, 67% funds were raised from political parties, 4% were raised by MLAs themselves and 29% funds were raised from other sources.
• MLAs Who Raised Funds from Political Parties: Out of the 140 MLAs analyzed, 110 (79%) MLAs have declared that they have received funds from political parties and 30 (21%) MLAs have declared that they have not received any funds from political parties.
• MLAs Who Raised Funds through any person/ company/ firm/ associations/ body of persons etc as loan, gift or donation etc: Out of the 140 MLAs analyzed, 116 (83%) MLAs have declared that they have received funds from any person/ company/ firm/ associations/ body of persons etc as loan, gift or donation etc. and 24 (17%) MLAs have declared that they have not received any funds from any person/ company/ firm/ associations/ body of persons etc as loan, gift or donation etc.
• Self-funds used for election campaign: Out of the 140 MLAs analyzed, 117 (84%) MLAs have declared that they have used their own funds for their election campaign and 23 (16%) MLAs have declared that they have not used any of their own funds for their election campaign.

English Report

Hindi Report