19 political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, received over Rs 1,100 crore and spent over Rs 500 crore during the 2021 assembly elections in five states and union territories. A large portion of this went to star campaigners and travel expenses and commercials.

BJP got maximum 611 crores
During the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, the BJP got the maximum amount of Rs 611.692 crore and spent Rs 252 crore. Overall, the party spent Rs 85.26 crore on campaigning including media advertising and Rs 61.73 crore on travel expenses of star campaigners and other leaders, said a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch.

Congress received the second highest amount of Rs 193.77 crore and spent Rs 85.625 crore. This includes Rs 31,451 crore on publicity and Rs 20.40 crore for travel expenses. DMK received the third highest amount of Rs 134 crore and spent a total of Rs 114.14 crore. The party spent Rs 52.144 crore on campaigning and Rs 2.414 crore for travel expenses of its star campaigners and other leaders. The CPI(M) got Rs 79.244 crore, TMC Rs 56.328 crore, AIADMK Rs 14.46 crore and CPI Rs 8.05 crore during the elections, the report said.

Where the CPI(M) spent a total of Rs 32.74 crore, out of which Rs 21.509 crore was spent on publicity and Rs 1.173 crore on travel expenses. The AIADMK’s total expenditure during the elections stood at Rs 57.33 crore and out of which Rs 56.756 crore was spent on campaigning. According to the report, the CPI spent Rs 5.68 crore in the election, out of which Rs 3.506 crore was spent on campaigning.

Audit of Assembly Elections in Five States and Union Territories
ADR-National Election Watch analyzed the money and expenditure received by a total of 19 political parties during the 2021 assembly elections in five states and union territories. Funds and expenditure of 19 parties including BJP, Congress, BSP, NCP, TMC, CPI(M), CPI, DMK, AIMIM, CPI(ML)(L), AIFB, AGP, AIADMK, PMK, SP were analyzed . The ADR in its report said that the total money collected by 19 political parties in 2021 during the Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry assembly elections was Rs 1,116.81 crore and the total expenditure was Rs 514.30 crore.