Six parties increased funds post-2024 elections

In the wake of the 2024 General Election, six political parties have reported a significant increase in their funds. This analysis includes prominent parties like the BJP and Congress. The BJP topped the list by raising substantial funds throughout its campaign. The six parties that saw their funds rise are the BJP, TDP, CPM, LJP (Ram Vilas), Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). Venkatesh Nayak from the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative highlighted that these parties not only maintained their starting funds but also raised additional money during the election season. Overall, a report shows that the combined closing balance for 22 major political parties increased by 31%. They began with a total of Rs 11,326 crore and ended with Rs 14,848 crore after raising Rs 7,416 crore and spending Rs 3,861.6 crore. The BJP had the highest starting balance of Rs 5,922 crore and ended with Rs 10,107 crore. It raised Rs 6,268 crore and spent Rs 1,738 crore, marking a gain of Rs 4,185 crore. In contrast, Congress started with a lower balance and fell to 12th position after the elections. Analysis also revealed how the parties allocated their campaign spending. They spent Rs 992.4 crore on media ads and Rs 196.2 crore on social media. Travel costs for star campaigners reached Rs 830 crore. Additionally, there was notable spending on public meetings and materials. Among the candidates, 1,595 were fielded, with 480 winning seats, which is over 88% of the Lok Sabha. The BJP especially dominated the fundraising, securing 84.5% of total funds and 45% of the campaign spending.