The 2014 general elections were estimated to be India’s most expensive—and the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) broke the bank on the way to its biggest ever election victory. BJP and Congress spent over Rs 714 crore and Rs 516 crore respectively in 2014 general elections and recent assembly polls in various states.

According to latest data of Election Commission (EC), the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) spent a total of Rs 7,14,28,57,813, while the Congress shelled out Rs 5,16,02,36,785. Both the parties have recently submitted their expenditure statements to the EC, well beyond the stipulated deadline of August 2014.

According to the data, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spent a total of Rs 51,34,44,854 in these polls followed by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with an expenditure of Rs 30,05,84,822. CPI(M) incurred an expenditure of Rs 18,69,18,169.

EC had on November 28 issued showcause notices to 20 political parties, including Congress, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party, for failing to file their poll expenditure statements for these elections within the stipulated timeframe. As per rules, political parties are required to file their election expenditure statements within 75 days of assembly elections while the deadline in case of Lok Sabha polls is 90 days.

As The Logical Indian, we absolutely do not have any questions on the amount of money spent in the elections, be it a crore or a thousand. It is obvious that money has to be spent by the political parties during elections and it completely depends on their marketing skills and budget how they utilize their funds.

The question is, isn’t it important for every Indian citizen to be equally aware of the ‘sources’ of the funds?

Spare a thought!