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‘Poll parties fund collection soared 5-times in 10 yrs’

The total funds collected by national parties during Lok Sabha polls has grown nearly five times in the last ten years, with BJP and Congress topping the charts in terms of capital mop-up, a study said on Monday. At the same time, the total expenditure incurred by national parties Lok Sabha elections has also risen by nearly four times in the last ten-year period, according to the latest report from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch.

The report, which ADR said was based on poll expenditure statements submitted by the parties to the Election Commission, further said that total funds collected by the national parties in the last three Lok Sabha polls stood at Rs 2,237.28 crore. This includes BJP’s Rs 1,171.38 crore, followed by Congress’ 778.49 crore, BSP’s Rs 110.45 crore, NCP’s Rs 90.95 crore, CPM’s Rs 66.27 crore and CPI’s Rs 19.74 crore.

The report said that the total funds raised by these six parties grew to Rs 1,158.59 crore in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, from Rs 223.8 crore in the 2004 general elections. “Over a period of 10 years, funds collected by national parties during Lok Sabha elections increased by 418 per cent,” ADR said, while adding that funds were collected over a 75-day period from the the date of announcement of elections and the date of completion of polls.

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