Analysis of Funds Collected and Expenditure Incurred by Political Parties during Bihar Assembly Election, 2025
This report analyses the funds received and expenditure incurred by recognized political parties, during the Bihar Assembly election held between the months of October (elections announced on 6 October 2025) and November (elections completed on 16 November 2025) 2025.
Key Findings
The election expenditure statements of CPI(ML)(L), NCP, NPEP, AIFB, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party parties were not available on the website of the ECI at the time of making this report.
A total of 161 political parties including 6 national parties, 10 regional parties, and 145 Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs) contested the Bihar Assembly Election 2025.
In the Bihar Assembly Election 2025, BJP emerged as the largest party, securing 89 seats, followed closely by JD(U) with 85 seats. RJD won 25 seats, while LJP (Ram Vilas) secured 19 seats. INC and AIMIM won 6 and 5 seats respectively, whereas CPI(ML)(L) secured 2 seats. BSP and CPI(M) won 1 seat each.
The National Political Parties considered in this report are: BJP, INC, AAP, BSP and CPI(M). The Regional parties considered are RJD, JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), AIMIM and CPI.
Among political parties, BJP collected the maximum funds of Rs 195.23 cr, of which, Rs 184.63 cr (94.57%) was collected at the party’s Central Headquarter level.
INC collected the second highest funds worth Rs 70.058 cr, and RJD collected the third highest funds of Rs 7.407 cr.
Out of the total expenditure of Rs 193.466 cr, BJP incurred the maximum expenditure of Rs 117 cr, which forms 60.48% of total expenditure.
JD(U) spent the second highest expenditure of Rs 36.944 cr, and INC spent the third highest expenditure of a total of Rs 23.766 cr.
Out of a total expenditure of Rs 273.804 cr under various heads, political parties spent the maximum amount of Rs 100.429 cr on Publicity followed by Travel worth Rs 79.539 cr.
The parties spent the highest on Publicity (Rs 100.429 cr or 36.68% of total expenditure) followed by Rs 79.539 cr or 29.05% of total on Travel Expenses and Rs 62.072 cr on Lump sum amounts paid to candidates (22.67% of total expenditure).
The top 3 Parties which spent the highest are: BJP (Rs 146.712 cr) followed by JD(U) (Rs 67.2846 cr) and INC (Rs 41.073 cr).
BJP, JD(U), INC, RJD, CPI(M), AIMIM, and CPI have incurred Rs 25.35 cr, Rs 29.90 cr, 6.00 cr, Rs 37 lakhs, Rs 31 lakhs, Rs 11 lakhs and Rs 3.25 lakhs respectively under Lumpsum amounts paid to candidates.
The total funds collected by 8 political parties which contested both the 2020 and 2025 Bihar assembly election (and whose data was available for both elections) were Rs 167.904 cr and Rs 279.738 cr, respectively. The increase in total funds was 66.61% or Rs 111.834 cr.
The total expenditure incurred by 8 political parties which contested both 2020 and 2025 Bihar assembly elections were Rs 89.416 cr and Rs 191.474 cr, respectively. The increase in total expenditure was 114.14% or Rs 102.058 cr.
Observations of ADR
- The election expenditure statements of CPI(ML)(L), NCP, NPEP, AIFB, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party for the Bihar assembly election 2025 are not available in the public domain despite contesting the election and even after an inordinate delay of more than four months.
- BSP is the only party which did not declare any funds collected (by cash, cheque/DD and in Kind) during the Bihar Assembly Election, 2025.
- According to Part C of INC’s election expenditure statement for the Bihar Assembly Election 2025, a total amount of Rs 71.08 cr has been shown as funds received. Of this, Rs 1.03 cr is recorded as “Adjustment – Inter Office Transactions,” indicating an internal transfer from the party’s Central Headquarters to the Bihar State Unit. Consequently, this amount has not been treated as part of the actual funds received for the election. After excluding this internal adjustment, the Congress Party’s effective receipts amount to Rs 70.058 cr.
- Aam Aadmi Party Bihar State Unit has declared Rs. 9.56 lakhs under the State Funds column. However, this amount represents a lump-sum transfer made by the Party Central Headquarters to the Bihar State Unit through NEFT in two installments of Rs. 6.83 lakhs and Rs. 2.73 lakhs, totaling Rs. 9.56 lakhs. Since this amount has already been accounted for under the funds transferred by the Central Headquarters, it has not been included in the report to avoid double counting.
- During the Bihar Assembly Election 2025, only the BJP (Rs 18.9967 cr) and JD(U) (16.635 cr) declared expenses under Social Media Advertisements in the Media Advertisement Expenses section. Additionally, the BJP reported expenditure of Rs 1.7986 cr on virtual campaigning through social media. The INC (Rs 11.2436 cr), CPI(M) (Rs 2.80 lakh), and CPI (Rs 40,000) also declared expenses under virtual campaigning through social media.