BJP Sees Massive Fund Rise Despite Electoral Bond Ban; Receives ₹6,125 Crore in One Year, Congress Faces Decline

New Delhi: Despite the Supreme Court’s February 2024 ban on electoral bonds, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recorded a remarkable 54% increase in income, receiving ₹6,125 crore in voluntary contributions in 2024-25. In contrast, the Congress party witnessed a significant drop in donations.

Rise in BJP Donations
According to data released by the Election Commission, BJP received ₹6,125 crore in voluntary contributions during 2024-25, up from ₹3,967 crore in 2023-24 — a 54% increase, surpassing the expected loss from the electoral bond cessation.

Corporate donations saw a substantial surge. In 2024-25, contributions from companies and organisations amounted to ₹5,422 crore, compared to ₹1,885 crore the previous year. BJP also received ₹641 crore from individual donors, up from ₹240 crore in 2023-24. Overall, the party’s total income rose from ₹4,340 crore in 2023-24 to ₹6,769 crore in 2024-25, including ₹6,125 crore voluntary contributions, ₹634 crore bank interest, ₹5.7 crore from fees and subscriptions, and ₹4.5 crore from other sources.

Expenditure and Campaign Spending
BJP’s total expenditure in 2024-25 was ₹3,775 crore, of which ₹3,335 crore went to election campaigns, nearly double the ₹1,754 crore spent in 2023-24. Major spending included:

• Electronic media: ₹1,125 crore
• Hoardings and cutouts: ₹107 crore
• Air travel: ₹583 crore
• Financial aid to candidates: ₹313 crore
• Rallies and campaigns: ₹91 crore
• Meetings: ₹52 crore

The party’s opening balance for 2024-25 was ₹9,170 crore, with a year-end surplus of ₹2,995 crore, bringing the closing balance to ₹12,164 crore. Cash and cash equivalents stood at ₹9,996 crore, up from ₹7,114 crore the previous year.

Congress Faces Decline
In contrast, the Congress party’s total income fell to ₹918 crore in 2024-25, while expenditure was ₹1,123 crore. Donations dropped by nearly 54%, from ₹1,130 crore in 2023-24 to ₹522 crore, largely due to the discontinuation of electoral bonds, which had contributed ₹828 crore the previous year. The party spent ₹896 crore on election campaigns in 2024-25, up from ₹620 crore in 2023-24.