National and regional parties collected a staggering Rs 5323.41 cr during the election period of 1,535 days between 2004 and 2015, shows an analysis of funds collected and expenditure incurred by political parties. The analysis was carried out the Association for Democratic Reforms [ADR] and National Election Watch.

During the Lok Sabha elections held in 2004, 2009 and 2014, political parties collectively declared collecting a total of Rs 2355.35 crores of which 44 percent or Rs 1039.06 crores was by cash and 55 percent or Rs 1299.53 crores was by cheque.

Rs 16.76 crores was declared by the parties as funds collected ‘in kind’ during the Lok Sabha elections.


With regard to the total funds collected by political parties during assembly elections (2004-2015), maximum funds were collected during the seven assembly elections held in 2012 where 13 political parties have declared collecting a total of Rs 695.28 crores of which Rs 370.45 crores was collected in cash (53 percent of total funds) and Rs 324.83 crores was collected by cheque (47 percent of total funds).

Collectively, during the 71 Assembly elections held between 2004 and 2015, political parties have declared collecting Rs 2,107.80 crores in cash (63 percent of total funds) and Rs 1,244.86 crores by cheque (37 percent of total funds).


According to the proforma issued by the Election Commission of India to political parties for submission of their election expenditure statements, funds received between the date of announcements of elections and completion of elections have to be disclosed in cash, cheques/DD, in kind (value of which has to be specified).

Among all the regional parties which have submitted their election expenditure statements for the Lok Sabha elections held in 2004, 2009, 2014, the top five parties include SP, AAP, AIADMK, BJD and SAD.



These five parties have declared collecting a total of Rs 267.14 crores which forms 62 percent of the total funds declared by all the regional parties collectively. They have declared collecting Rs 129.22 crores in cash (48 percent of total funds) and Rs 137.72 crores by cheque (52 percent of total funds).



Despite contesting in only one Lok Sabha election, AAP stands second in the total funds collected by declaring Rs 51.83 crores. This forms 19 percent of total funds collected by all the five regional parties which contested in 3 Lok Sabha elections.



Among the top 5 regional parties, SP has declared the maximum expenditure of Rs 90.09 crores during the Lok Sabha elections followed by AIADMK which had declared incurring an expenditure of Rs 39.31 crores.



Among all the regional parties which have declared their expenditure during assembly elections held between 2004 and 2015, the top 5 parties include SP, AAP, SAD, Shiv Sena and AITC.

The five parties have declared a total of Rs 291.92 crores as funds collected of which Rs 112.87 crores was in cash and Rs 179.02 crores was by cheque. This forms 82 percent of the total funds declared by all the regional parties collectively.

SP declared collecting a total of Rs 186.8 crores while AAP comes a distant second with Rs 38.54 crores as total funds collected.  SP declared incurring the maximum expenditure of Rs 96.54 crores during the assembly elections followed by Shiv Sena with Rs 29.605 crores.

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Funds collected and expenditure incured by Political parties in 11 years - 2004 to 2015