Congress Allocates Rs 585 Crore for 2024 Lok Sabha and State Assembly Elections

The Congress party, which had previously voiced concerns about a financial shortfall before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, allocated approximately Rs 585 crore for both the parliamentary and concurrent state elections. A significant portion, nearly 70%, was directed towards media campaigns and advertisements. This expenditure was detailed in their election spending report for the general election and assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim.

Media and Campaign Expenditure

In its report to the Election Commission, the Congress disclosed spending Rs 410 crore on advertisements and media campaigns. Additionally, around Rs 46 crore was used for virtual campaigns through social media platforms, apps, and other digital means. The party also allocated Rs 105 crore for air travel expenses of its prominent campaigners during the intense Lok Sabha election campaign.

Financial Support to Candidates

The Congress provided a lump sum of Rs 11.20 crore to key Lok Sabha candidates, including Rahul Gandhi, to aid in their election efforts. Furthermore, Rs 68.62 crore was spent on printing posters, banners, hoardings, and other promotional materials during the Lok Sabha election campaign.

Financial Resources and Challenges

At the time of announcing the Lok Sabha election, Congress had Rs 170 crore in various deposits. It received an additional Rs 539.37 crore as gross receipts from different sources, including Rs 13.76 crore in cash deposits. Despite these funds, the party faced challenges when some of its bank accounts were frozen by the Income Tax department due to disputes over past Income Tax Returns.

The accounts were eventually unfrozen after legal intervention. In the general election, Congress secured 99 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats, establishing itself as the principal opposition party while the BJP retained power for a third consecutive term.