BJP sitting on a corpus of nearly Rs 10,000 crore

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has amassed cash and bank deposits close to Rs 10,000 crore, its latest annual audit report submitted to the Election Commission shows. 

The report reveals that the ruling party significantly stepped up its election spending during the 2024–25 financial year, when it returned to power in Delhi after defeating the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and formed the government in Odisha by unseating the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). 

The BJP’s election-related expenditure nearly doubled to Rs 3,335.36 crore in 2024–25 from Rs 1,754.06 crore in the previous year. Even after this sharp rise in spending, the party recorded a net addition of Rs 2,882.32 crore to its cash and deposits during the year.

As of March 31, 2025, the BJP’s general fund stood at Rs 12,164 crore, up from Rs 9,169 crore a year earlier. This included Rs 9,996 crore held as cash and bank deposits, along with Rs 234.11 crore extended as loans and advances.

The sizeable financial corpus will now pass on to newly appointed party president Nitin Nabin, who took charge earlier this week.

The audit report also shows a surge in voluntary donations, which rose to Rs 6,125 crore in 2024–25 from Rs 3,967 crore in the previous financial year. With fixed deposits totalling Rs 9,390 crore, the party earned Rs 634 crore as interest income from banks.

In addition, the BJP claimed an Income Tax refund of Rs 65.92 crore during the year and earned Rs 4.40 crore as interest on the refund amount.

Election expenses accounted for 88.36 per cent of the party’s total expenditure in 2024–25. Of the total election spend, Rs 312.9 crore was disbursed as financial assistance to candidates, while Rs 583 crore went towards travel expenses involving aircraft and helicopters.

Spending on publicity and outreach formed a major portion of election costs. The BJP spent Rs 1,125 crore on electronic media advertising and election propaganda, Rs 107 crore on cutouts, hoardings and banners, and Rs 123 crore on printed campaign material. The report further noted expenses of Rs 897 crore on advertisements, Rs 90.93 crore on rallies and campaigns, and Rs 51.72 crore on meeting-related activities.