BJP Leads in Election Spending in Assam with ₹96.27 Crore

In the recent elections, the BJP emerged as the frontrunner in Assam with a staggering expenditure of ₹96.27 crore, dwarfing the Congress party's spending of ₹22.62 crore. This financial disparity highlights the significant resources available to the BJP compared to its rival. The BJP's overall financial strength is further underscored by its substantial increase in funds during the election period. As the political landscape evolves, these figures reveal the intense competition and financial strategies at play in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 9, 2026, 17:50 IST

BJP's Significant Election Expenditure in Assam

A file image of Chief Minister Sarma and state BJP chief Dilip Saikia during an election rally. (Photo:X).

New Delhi, Sep 9: According to statements submitted to the Election Commission, Assam has emerged as the state with the highest election expenditure by the BJP, totaling ₹96.27 crore.

Out of this amount, ₹76.73 crore was allocated for general party promotion, while ₹19.54 crore was designated for candidates and associated costs. Notably, advertising and travel for star campaigners accounted for approximately ₹37 crore and ₹27.3 crore, respectively, within the general propaganda budget in Assam.

In contrast, the Congress party spent ₹22.62 crore on general party promotion in Assam, marking the second-highest expenditure among states, following Kerala, where the party's spending reached ₹59.28 crore.

The financial landscape reveals a stark contrast between the two parties during the five-state Assembly elections. The BJP secured nearly ₹1,473 crore at its central headquarters from March 15 to May 6, while the Congress reported net receipts of ₹207.17 crore from both central and state units.

The Congress' comprehensive expenditure report, which includes Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, indicated total spending of ₹248.55 crore against its net receipts.

The BJP's reported figure of ₹1,472.8 crore reflects only the receipts at its central headquarters, with its expenditure reports for Kerala and West Bengal still pending, suggesting that its total receipts across the five states may be even higher.

Additionally, the BJP concluded the election period with a significantly increased balance at its central headquarters, rising from ₹6,722.6 crore on March 15 to ₹7,627.2 crore on May 6, an increase of ₹904.6 crore.

Conversely, the Congress experienced a decline in finances, starting the election period with approximately ₹169.06 crore, which included ₹22.9 crore in cash and ₹146.1 crore in bank accounts, and ending with around ₹103.2 crore, a drop of ₹65.86 crore.

Beyond Assam, the BJP's expenditure reports indicate a total spending of about ₹159.7 crore across Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, with around ₹130.4 crore allocated for general party promotion and the remainder for candidates and related expenses.

Across all five states, the Congress reported a total expenditure of ₹143 crore on general party promotion and ₹105.55 crore on candidates, bringing its overall election spending to ₹248.55 crore.

Of this, ₹40.52 crore was attributed to the central headquarters for propaganda, while state and local units contributed another ₹102.49 crore.

The data highlights the magnitude of campaign spending in Assam, where the BJP's reported expenditure of ₹96.27 crore significantly surpassed the ₹22.62 crore spent by the Congress' Assam unit on general party promotion.