News Brief
BRS Emerges Richest Regional Party, TDP Climbs To Fourth With Sharpest Income Increase: Election Commission Data
ADR report shows regional parties earned Rs 2,532 crore in 2023-24, with over 70 per cent from electoral bonds. (X)
Regional political parties across India reported a combined income of Rs 2,532 crore in 2023-24, with more than 70 per cent of their funds flowing in through electoral bonds (EBs), according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) based on submissions to the Election Commission of India (ECI), reported The New Indian Express.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) emerged as the richest regional party, declaring an income of Rs 685.5 crore, followed by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) with Rs 646 crore.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ranked third at Rs 297 crore, while the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) secured fourth position with Rs 285 crore, and the Yuvajana Raithu Sramika Congress Party (YSRCP) stood fifth at Rs 191 crore.
TDP reported a sharp rise, with its income surging more than threefold from Rs 63.9 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 285.07 crore in 2023-24. Its funding was overwhelmingly dependent on EBs, which accounted for Rs 274.65 crore (96.34 per cent), while interest on deposits contributed another Rs 10.3 crore.
YSRCP’s income jumped from Rs 74.78 crore to Rs 191 crore, with Rs 184.1 crore (96.38 per cent) sourced from voluntary donations and contributions.
TDP disclosed spending Rs 80.42 crore on election campaigns, Rs 35.38 crore on administration, and Rs 4.36 crore under other heads.
The report also flagged a gap in disclosures: the Jana Sena Party, founded by Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM K Pawan Kalyan, had not filed income and expenditure details despite contesting elections in 2019 and 2024.
“The total income of the 40 regional parties during 2023-24 was Rs 2,532 crore,” ADR noted, highlighting the dominance of electoral bonds in regional party funding.
