![\"Congress](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133173577,imgsize-2407131,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/congress-party.jpg\" "\\"As")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: The Congress spent a total Rs 248.6 crore on its campaign for the recent assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, even as its total receipts between the date of announcement and completion of these polls stood at Rs 207.1 crore.According to Congress’s election expenditure statement for the five state\/UT polls, filed on July 31 with the Election Commission, the party received Rs 104 crore in cash and Rs 103.1 crore via cheque or draft between March 15, 2026, when the elections were announced, and May 6, 2026, when they had concluded.The Congress’s full poll expense statement shows its total opening balance of cash in hand (including at the level of its central headquarters and the state\/district\/local level units of the 5 states\/UTs) at Rs 22.9 crore and its cash in bank at Rs 146.1 crore. At the end of the polls, its cash in hand was marginally lower at Rs 22.6 crore while its bank balance had declined by 45% to Rs 80.6 crore.On the expenditure side, the party declared a total spend of Rs 143 crore on general party propaganda and Rs 105.6 crore on candidates. The latter includes Rs 95.5 crore given by the party as lump-sum payments to its candidates across the five poll-gone states\/UT; while the central party headquarters bore Rs 95.3 crore of expenditure under this head, the state\/district\/local units disbursed only Rs 23 lakh among the candidates. Expenses on virtual campaigns through social media platforms and applications were declared at Rs 6.8 crore.Over Rs 3.2 crore was spent by the Congress on publicising the criminal antecedents of its candidates.As part of general party propaganda, the Congress spent Rs 92.5 crore on media advertisements, covering print and electronic space, bulk SMS, cable TV, websites and TV channels. Another Rs 8 crore funded public meetings, processions and rallies, while Rs 11.5 crore was spent on badges, posters, cutouts, hoardings etc and nearly Rs 2 crore on miscellaneous propaganda items.Poll surveys and campaigns for the five assembly elections cost the Congress Rs 4.8 crore.A total Rs 23.5 crore was spent by the grand old party on the travel and lodging of its star campaigners (Rs 21.8 crore) and other leaders. The aircraft and helicopters were sourced from Air Charter Services Pvt Ltd, Aircab Aviation, A R Airways, GMP Air Charter, Lima Tang Aviation Service, Devigo Data Systems and Global Vectra.<\/p>\n Share your thoughts in the comments<\/p>\n<\/div>\n