Parties spent Rs.136 crore in 2008 polls: ADR

Political parties spent Rs.136.88 crore in the 2008 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said Monday.

According to the NGO, which analysed poll expenditure details submitted by the parties to the Election Commission, while the BJP did not spend any money on publicity or travel during these elections, the Congress declared an expenditure of Rs.102.56 crore.

The Nationalist Congress Party is the only national party which did not submit its expenditure details. The National Conference of Jammu and Kashmir was the only regional party to submit its expenditure -- Rs.1.36 crore.

Political parties are required to submit a statement of expenditure to the Election Commission within 75 days of the end of assembly elections.

The ADR statement said the total funds collected by the national parties during the 2008 elections were Rs.182.12 crore.

The Congress received 93.43 percent of the Rs.81.92 crore received by it in cash while the BJP got 85.60 percent of the Rs.14.44 crore it collected in cash.

The Bahujan Samaj Party received all its funds in cash - Rs.76.20 cror.

According to ADR, unlike the collection mode, the preferred mode of expenditure by political parties was through cheques or demand drafts.

The ADR has demanded more transparency in the finances of the political parties especially during elections "when it is said that black money plays a major role".