A recent study by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative — CHRI —based on the submissions made to the Election Commission has brought to light revelations of how political parties amassed and spent their war chests in the battle for power.BJP dominated the spending gameAccording to the study of these official figures, Rs 18,742.31 crores were at the disposal of just 22 political parties for election spending.These parties include the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC), All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Indian National Congress (INC), Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)], Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(RV)], Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP).In all Rs 3,861.57 crores were blown up in the high-stakes game of political warfare. BJP declared the highest expenditure of Rs 1,737.68 crores, accounting for more than 45% of the total amount spent. When it came to donations specifically, Rs 7,416.31 crores were raised, with the BJP bagging a colossal 84.5% of the total amount.
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