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Achhe Din: BJP's income rose by 44% within a year of coming to power

Akash Bisht | Updated on: 20 April 2016, 16:11 IST

A report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on income and expenditure of national parties claims that between FY 2013-14 and 2014-15, BJP's income registered a growth of 44.02% (Rs 296.62 crore) while the CPI has shown a decline of 24.28% in its income.

As expected, BJP spent the highest on advertisement and publicity followed by travel while BSP's total income of Rs 92.80 crore came from unknown sources.

According to the report, the income of the national parties witnessed an increase of 39% which stood at Rs.920.44 crore in 2013-14 fiscal and spiked to Rs.1,275.78 crore in 2014-15.

Moreover, 50% income of all parties came from unknown sources. 

BJP spent Rs 471.89 crore (51.69%) on ads & publicity. Congress yet to file IT returns

Meanwhile, even 162 days after the notification by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Congress is yet to file its report. The last date for filing the annual audited accounts of the six national parties was 19 November, 2015.

BJP, CPM, NCP, CPI, BSP and Congress are the 6 national parties that have to submit their detailed audit reports each year.

In November 2014, the ECI made it mandatory for national parties to submit these reports and since then ADR has brought out reports which carefully assessed and analysed IT returns declared by these outfits.

Here are some astonishing details of each of the national political parties for the FY 2014-15 :

Bharatiya Janata Party:

  • Between 2013-14 to 2014-15, BJP's income increased by 44.02% (Rs 296.62 crore) which is highest amongst all political parties. During 2013-14, BJP income was Rs 673.81 crore which sky rocketed to Rs 970.43 crore in 2014-15 which is 76.06% of the total income of national parties in the last financial year.
  • During this period, BJP declared that it received Rs 940.39 crore from donations.
  • The party generated highest income from donations above Rs 20,000 which is 50% of total donations and the details of these donors are not available. Rs 437.35 crore were raised through these donations in this financial year.
  • Rs 505.26 crore were raised from unknown sources through donations below Rs 20,000. These donations are income declared in IT returns but source of income are not provided.
  • BJP's top source of income was through voluntary contributions wherein the party received Rs 872.02 crore.
  • BJP's maximum expenditure has been towards "Advertisement and Publicity" which amounted to Rs 471.89 crore (51.69%) followed by travelling which cost Rs 209.57 crore (22.95%).
  • Communist Party of India (Marxist):

  • Between 2013-14 and 2014-15, CPI(M)'s income increased by mere Rs 2.05 crore which is 9.71% of the total income by national parties. The party received Rs 123.92 crore in 2014-15 and declared the second highest income amongst national parties.
  • During this period, CPI(M) declared that it received Rs 59.27 crore from voluntary donations.
  • Out of Rs 59.275 crore declared by CPI(M) as total donations of the party, only Rs 3.419 crore (6%) came from donors whose details are declared in the donations report of the party.
  • The party received Rs 60.13 crore from unknown sources which include voluntary and miscellaneous contributions. CPI(M) collected Rs 15.58 crore as interest.
  • It spent the highest 24.23% on employee cost followed by 21.67% on election expenditure.
  • Nationalist Congress Party:

  • NCP filed their annual audited accounts by February 2 - 63 days after the date of submission.
  • During this period the party received Rs 67.64 crore which is an increase by Rs 12.22 crore.
  • NCP was the only party which declared collection from sale of coupon in the main income-expenditure statement and declared collecting Rs 27.16 crore from sale of such coupons.
  • NCP is only party which has not received donation below Rs 20,000 during FY 2014-15. Thus all voluntary contributions are available in the public domain.
  • The unknown sources of income of NCP amounts to Rs 27.18 crore.
  • NCP spent the maximum of Rs 67.70 crore on election expenditure followed by expenditure of Rs 13.36 crore on administrative and general expenses.
  • Bahujan Samaj Party:

  • BSP's income increased by 67.31% (Rs 45.04 crore). The party had a total income of Rs 111.95 crore which was Rs 66.91 crore in 2013-14.
  • The party received Rs 92.80 crore as donations and stands second in the list of the maximum income from donations.
  • Interestingly, BSP claims not having received any donation above Rs 20,000 hence no donations details of the party are in public domain. Hence, all its income is from unknown sources.
  • The party collected an interest of Rs 7.688 crore and spent 82.88% (Rs 31.04 crore) on election expenditure.
  • Communist Party of India:

  • Among all the national parties, CPI is the only party whose income has fallen.. The party generated Rs 1.84 crore in 2013-14 as compared to Rs 2.43 crore in 2014-15, a fall of 24.28% (Rs 59 lakhs). CPI's forms a mere 0.14% of the total income of the national parties and it would be lower if Congress's income was accounted.
  • CPI had declared Rs 72 lakhs as donations received in its IT returns while the party declared receiving Rs 1.33 crore from donors who donated above Rs 20,000 in its contributions report to the ECI. Hence the share of donations above Rs 20,000 in total donations of the party appears to be 185%.
  • The unknown sources of income for the party is a miniscule Rs 30,000.
  • The party spent 40.93% on election and publicity expenses followed by 16.74% on salary and allowances.
  • Indian National Congress:

    In 2013-14, Congress income stood at Rs 598.06 crore and its been 141 days since they were asked to submit its audit report.

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    First published: 19 April 2016, 22:38 IST