Congress richest political party: RTI

New Delhi, Aug 18: As the Parliament splits over the MPs salary hike and the country reels under inflation, the data gathered from Right to Information (RTI) has disclosed that all political parties are in the pink of financial health.

Sources say, Congress appears richest with an aggregate income of Rs.1,518 crore earned over a seven-year period between the assessment years 2002-2003 and 2009-2010 folowed by BJP.

BJP and the BSP reported incomes of Rs. 754 crore and Rs. 358 crore respectively for 2009-10.

The maximum annualized growth average in total assets in this period was recorded by the BSP (59 per cent), followed by the Nationalist Congress Party (51 per cent) and the SP (44 per cent).

The analysis was arrived from the income tax and assessment orders of political parties accessed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) under the RTI Act.

Among other parties, the income shown for 2009-10 by CPI is Rs 1 crore, RJD (Rs 4 crore), SP (Rs 39 crore), NCP (Rs 40 crore) and CPM (Rs 63 crore).

The statement by ADR and National Election Watch emphasized the need for political parties to have transparency in their accounts and funding.

OneIndia News