NEW DELHI: The BJP spent Rs 286.99 crore on the West Bengal elections alone, more than the Rs 248.55 crore the Congress spent across five states and a Union territory that went to polls earlier this year, according to expenditure statements filed with the Election Commission.West Bengal accounted for more than half of the BJP’s total expenditure of Rs 529.38 crore across the five elections — in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.The BJP spent Rs 217.16 crore on general campaigning in Bengal and another Rs 69.83 crore on candidates and related expenses, news agency PTI reported.The party came to power in West Bengal for the first time, winning 207 of the 293 seats for which results were declared.
BJP’s Bengal spending outpaces Congress’ five-state total
The Congress, which contested 293 seats independently in Bengal despite having a limited presence in the state, won two seats. It reported spending Rs 42.08 crore in Bengal through its central headquarters and state unit.Of this, Rs 12.96 crore was spent on general campaigning, while Rs 29.12 crore went towards candidates and related expenses.The CPI(M), which ruled Bengal for decades before losing power in 2011, contested 197 seats and won one. Its state unit reported expenditure of Rs 8.23 crore, including spending on candidates.The expenditure statement of the Trinamool Congress, the BJP’s principal rival in Bengal, has not been made public yet.
Congress spent more than BJP in Kerala
Kerala presented a different spending pattern. The Congress-led alliance displaced the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front, with the Congress winning 63 seats and the CPI(M) 26. The BJP won three seats.
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The Congress spent Rs 105.34 crore in Kerala through its headquarters and state unit, higher than the BJP’s Rs 82.67 crore.Of the Congress’ expenditure, Rs 71.30 crore went towards general campaigning and Rs 34.05 crore towards candidates and related expenses.The BJP reported spending Rs 54.93 crore on general campaigning in Kerala and Rs 27.74 crore on candidates.
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