Helicopters, influencers and nail art: The money trail of 2026 assembly elections
BJP declared substantial campaign expenses across several states during the recent assembly elections. Congress's spending was significantly lower, particularly in states like West Bengal and Keralam. The BJP's funding included extensive media advertisements and the use of star campaigners to draw crowds. The results demonstrated a stark contrast in electoral success despite the varying…
The BJP's 2026 assembly election campaign in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry involved diverse spending, ranging from advertisements and helicopter travel to direct grants to candidates. The party declared a total expenditure of Rs 529.39 crore for these five states. Their expenditure pattern varied significantly, with more funds allocated to advertisements and star campaigners' travel than direct candidate grants.
The BJP's extensive advertising campaigns and deployment of senior leaders distinguished its expenditure pattern from that of Congress. The BJP won 208 out of 350 seats in West Bengal, consolidating its first government in the state, while Congress won the remaining 142 seats.
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