BJP received Rs 2354.02 Cr as donations, a jump by 138 %

Hyderabad: Months before the last Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party had a jaw-dropping income of Rs 2,410.08 crore, in the financial year ending March 31, 2019. The influx of income was an increase of 57% against the Rs 1,027 crore it had reported in 2017-2018.

The figures are part of an audit report submitted by the BJP to the Election Commission of India on January 9. The saffron party’s income is categorised into fee and subscription, voluntary contributions, interest from banks and others.

At Rs 2,354.02 crore, voluntary contribution formed the bulk of the income of the lotus party. It was a sharp rise from Rs 989.7 crore in 2017-2018. This single category recorded an increase of 138% and bloated the reserves.

While the majority of avenues witnessed an influx of revenue, 'Fee & Subscription' dropped from Rs 5.58 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 1.89 crore in the following year.

Electoral Bonds:

Of the three national parties that received funds through electoral bonds, BJP scored a gold with Rs 1,450 crore, the highest of them all. The Congress received Rs 383.26 crore, while the TMC got Rs 97.28 core. A high number of bonds were raised months before the 17th Lok Sabha elections.

What did the BJP spend most on?

Of the six ‘expenditure' categories listed in the 2018-19 audit report, the BJP spent Rs 792.39 crore, the highest, on ‘election/general propaganda’. The break-up of the election expenditure showed that the party spent Rs 435.41 crore on advertisement and publicity alone. While Rs 85 crore was spent on grants (no specifications mentioned), it spent Rs 69.52 crore towards morcha/Andolan (protest).

The second-highest expenditure was the administrative cost, which was Rs 178 crore. The audit report concludes that the total expenditure incurred by party in the year ending on March 31, 2019, stood at Rs 1,005.33 crore. The BJP has a surplus of Rs 1,404 crore in the current financial year.

Major expenditures

1. Employee cost: Rs 23.61 crore

2. Administrative cost: Rs 178.35 crore

3. Finance costs: Rs 58.84 lakh

4. Election: Rs 792.39 crore

5. Other expenses: Rs 8.46 crore