NEW DELHI | The BJP spent Rs 96.27 crore on its election campaign in Assam during the 2026 Assembly polls, more than four times the Rs 22.62 crore spent by the Congress on general party propaganda in the state, according to expenditure statements filed with the Election Commission. Assam accounted for the largest share of the BJP’s reported poll expenditure among the three states for which its detailed statements have been made public.

Of the BJP’s total Assam expenditure, Rs 76.73 crore was spent on general party propaganda, while Rs 19.54 crore went towards candidates and related expenses. Advertising accounted for around Rs 37 crore of the party’s general prop aganda expenditure in Assam, while nearly Rs 27.3 crore was spent on travel by star campaigners.

The Congress, meanwhile, reported Rs 22.62 crore in general party propaganda expenditure in Assam. Its Assam spending was the second-highest among the states where its figures have been disclosed, after Kerala, where the party spent Rs 59.28 crore on general propagandaThe expenditure figures highlight the significant difference in the financial resources available to the BJP and Congress during the five-state Assembly elections.

The BJP received nearly Rs 1,473 crore at its central headquarters between March 15 and May 6, the election period covered by the statements. The Congress, in comparison, reported net receipts of Rs 207.17 crore across its central and state units. The Congress reported consolidated expenditure of Rs 248.55 crore across Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry during the election period.

The BJP’s reported receipts of Rs 1,472.8 crore relate to its central headquarters alone. Its expenditure statements for Kerala and West Bengal had not been made public, meaning its overall receipts and expenditure across the five states could be higher. The BJP also recorded a substantial increase in its central headquarters’ closing balance during the election period. Its balance rose from Rs 6,722.6 crore on March 15 to Rs 7,627.2 crore on May 6, an increase of Rs 904.6 crore.

The Congress reported a decline in its available funds over the same period. Across its central headquarters and five state units, the party began the election period with around Rs 169.06 crore, comprising Rs 22.9 crore in cash and Rs 146.1 crore in bank balances. By May 6, its available funds had fallen to around Rs 103.2 crore, a decline of Rs 65.86 crore.

Beyond Assam, the BJP’s available expenditure statements show that it spent around Rs 159.7 crore across Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Of this, approximately Rs 130.4 crore went towards general party propaganda, with the remainder spent on candidates and related expenses.

The Congress reported Rs 143 crore in general party propaganda expenditure across the five states and Rs 105.55 crore on candidates, taking its total election expenditure to Rs 248.55 crore. Of the Congress’ propaganda expenditure, its central headquarters accounted for Rs 40.52 crore, while state and local units spent another Rs 102.49 crore.The Assam figures underline the scale of campaign spending in the state, with the BJP’s reported expenditure of Rs 96.27 crore significantly exceeding the Congress’ Rs 22.62 crore expenditure on general party propaganda.