As part of general party propaganda, the Congress spent Rs 92.5 crore on media advertisements (representative image) NEW DELHI: The Congress spent a total Rs 248.6 crore on its campaign for the recent assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, even as its total receipts between the date of announcement and completion of these polls stood at Rs 207.1 crore.According to Congress’s election expenditure statement for the five state/UT polls, filed on July 31 with the Election Commission, the party received Rs 104 crore in cash and Rs 103.1 crore via cheque or draft between March 15, 2026, when the elections were announced, and May 6, 2026, when they had concluded.The Congress’s full poll expense statement shows its total opening balance of cash in hand (including at the level of its central headquarters and the state/district/local level units of the 5 states/UTs) at Rs 22.9 crore and its cash in bank at Rs 146.1 crore. At the end of the polls, its cash in hand was marginally lower at Rs 22.6 crore while its bank balance had declined by 45% to Rs 80.6 crore.On the expenditure side, the party declared a total spend of Rs 143 crore on general party propaganda and Rs 105.6 crore on candidates. The latter includes Rs 95.5 crore given by the party as lump-sum payments to its candidates across the five poll-gone states/UT; while the central party headquarters bore Rs 95.3 crore of expenditure under this head, the state/district/local units disbursed only Rs 23 lakh among the candidates. Expenses on virtual campaigns through social media platforms and applications were declared at Rs 6.8 crore.Over Rs 3.2 crore was spent by the Congress on publicising the criminal antecedents of its candidates.As part of general party propaganda, the Congress spent Rs 92.5 crore on media advertisements, covering print and electronic space, bulk SMS, cable TV, websites and TV channels. Another Rs 8 crore funded public meetings, processions and rallies, while Rs 11.5 crore was spent on badges, posters, cutouts, hoardings etc and nearly Rs 2 crore on miscellaneous propaganda items.Poll surveys and campaigns for the five assembly elections cost the Congress Rs 4.8 crore.A total Rs 23.5 crore was spent by the grand old party on the travel and lodging of its star campaigners (Rs 21.8 crore) and other leaders. The aircraft and helicopters were sourced from Air Charter Services Pvt Ltd, Aircab Aviation, A R Airways, GMP Air Charter, Lima Tang Aviation Service, Devigo Data Systems and Global Vectra.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe Congress’s central headquarters routed Rs 83.2 crore of its lump-sum payments to candidates through the state/UT units; with Kerala unit getting the largest share at Rs 55.1 crore, followed by Puducherry (Rs 10 crore), West Bengal (Rs 9 crore), Tamil Nadu (Rs 7.1 crore) and Assam (Rs 2 crore).The Congress-led UDF seized power in Kerala, but the party or its alliances performed poorly in other states, managing 21 seats in Assam, 6 in Puducherry and 2 in West Bengal, while drawing a blank in Tamil Nadu.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosExplained: Why Amritpal Singh’s Party Fielded Son of Indira Gandhi’s Assassin In Punjab Elections?Prashant Kishor Promises Jobs For 10,000 Bankipur Youths After Ending BJP’s 30-Year Hold | WatchIndia’s Map Move Rattles China: What Naming 27 Places In Arunachal Means?Air India Phuket-Delhi Pilot’s Confirmatory Dope Test Reportedly Positive For Marijuana, Sources SayTamil Nadu Assembly Passes Anti-NEET Resolution As DMK, AIADMK And PMK Back Abolition DemandDelhi CM Fumes, Rekha Gupta Slams AAP MLA Over Viral Video; Eight AAP MLAs Marshalled OutKashmiri Pandit Employees Sent On Leave After Lashkar-Linked Threat Letter‘Amit Shah Jawab Do’ Vs ‘Rahul Gandhi Bhaago Mat’: NDA, Oppn Face-Off In Parliament’Booked Hotel Room, Strangled Daughters’: Inside Bengaluru Murder Shocker‘Ladakh Is Not Kaziranga’: Snow Leopard Safari Plan Sparks Debate123Photostories9 of the most expensive ingredients grown in India6 common mistakes to avoid with pakodas and how to make them crispierFrom Mumbai to Chennai: Indian cities that were renamed and why10 baby names that represent the power and might of Lord ShivaUK Heatwave 2026: Met Office predicts this summer to be the hottest ever; 10 cities and urban areas under extreme heat stressWhy does your food taste bland? 4 common cooking mistakes to fixBaasi roti is an excellent breakfast: 5 health benefits you probably didn’t know about5 life lessons by Swami Vivekanand every student must knowRed pigments to elaborate hair: Japan’s longest-ruling dynasty, the Yamato Era’s beauty secrets decodedWhere is Westeros in real? 9 places ‘House of the Dragon’ built its realm in123Hot PicksInternational Youth DayMHT-CET CAP round seat allotmentSlovenia Indian embassyJharkhand protestN ChandrasekaranNEET PG 2026 city slipIran warSBI Clerk RecruitmentUP scholarshipTop TrendingChennai AirportNagpur Rape CaseAir India Phuket-Delhi FlightMumbai Kurla LandslideBengaluru Missing TechieSpiceJet FlightTelangana AccidentAbhijeet DipkeWeather TomorrowShakeel Noorani
NEW DELHI: The Congress spent a total Rs 248.6 crore on its campaign for the recent assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, even as its total receipts between the date of announcement and completion of these polls stood at Rs 207.1 crore.According to Congress’s election expenditure statement for the five state/UT polls, filed on July 31 with the Election Commission, the party received Rs 104 crore in cash and Rs 103.1 crore via cheque or draft between March 15, 2026, when the elections were announced, and May 6, 2026, when they had concluded.The Congress’s full poll expense statement shows its total opening balance of cash in hand (including at the level of its central headquarters and the state/district/local level units of the 5 states/UTs) at Rs 22.9 crore and its cash in bank at Rs 146.1 crore. At the end of the polls, its cash in hand was marginally lower at Rs 22.6 crore while its bank balance had declined by 45% to Rs 80.6 crore.On the expenditure side, the party declared a total spend of Rs 143 crore on general party propaganda and Rs 105.6 crore on candidates. The latter includes Rs 95.5 crore given by the party as lump-sum payments to its candidates across the five poll-gone states/UT; while the central party headquarters bore Rs 95.3 crore of expenditure under this head, the state/district/local units disbursed only Rs 23 lakh among the candidates. Expenses on virtual campaigns through social media platforms and applications were declared at Rs 6.8 crore.Over Rs 3.2 crore was spent by the Congress on publicising the criminal antecedents of its candidates.As part of general party propaganda, the Congress spent Rs 92.5 crore on media advertisements, covering print and electronic space, bulk SMS, cable TV, websites and TV channels. Another Rs 8 crore funded public meetings, processions and rallies, while Rs 11.5 crore was spent on badges, posters, cutouts, hoardings etc and nearly Rs 2 crore on miscellaneous propaganda items.Poll surveys and campaigns for the five assembly elections cost the Congress Rs 4.8 crore.A total Rs 23.5 crore was spent by the grand old party on the travel and lodging of its star campaigners (Rs 21.8 crore) and other leaders. The aircraft and helicopters were sourced from Air Charter Services Pvt Ltd, Aircab Aviation, A R Airways, GMP Air Charter, Lima Tang Aviation Service, Devigo Data Systems and Global Vectra.
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The Congress’s central headquarters routed Rs 83.2 crore of its lump-sum payments to candidates through the state/UT units; with Kerala unit getting the largest share at Rs 55.1 crore, followed by Puducherry (Rs 10 crore), West Bengal (Rs 9 crore), Tamil Nadu (Rs 7.1 crore) and Assam (Rs 2 crore).The Congress-led UDF seized power in Kerala, but the party or its alliances performed poorly in other states, managing 21 seats in Assam, 6 in Puducherry and 2 in West Bengal, while drawing a blank in Tamil Nadu.
