The Crossbill News Desk
Regional political parties across the country witnessed a steep fall in their earnings during the financial year 2024-25, even as their expenditure continued to rise beyond their total income, according to an analysis released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The report found that the combined income of 36 recognised regional parties dropped by more than 51% compared to the previous year.
According to the ADR analysis, the total income declared by these parties stood at Rs. 1,193 crore in 2024-25, a sharp decline from Rs. 2,463 crore recorded in the previous financial year. This marked a fall of nearly Rs. 1,270 crore, or 51.6%.
Despite the decline in earnings, the expenditure declared by these parties collectively touched Rs. 1,433 crore, exceeding their combined income by around Rs. 240 crore, or nearly 20%.
The ADR examined audited financial statements of 36 out of the 67 recognised regional parties whose audit reports for 2024-25 were available on the Election Commission website. It noted that 31 parties had still not uploaded their audit reports even 207 days after the October 31, 2025 deadline.
Among the parties analysed, the top five accounted for close to 69% of the total income and more than 77% of the overall expenditure. The highest income was reported by the Telugu Desam Party at Rs. 228 crore, followed by the All India Trinamool Congress with Rs. 219 crore and the YSR Congress Party with Rs. 140 crore.
On the spending side, the YSR Congress emerged as the biggest spender with expenditure amounting to Rs. 340 crore. It was followed by the Biju Janata Dal at Rs. 288 crore and the Trinamool Congress at Rs. 228 crore.
The report further revealed that 21 of the 36 parties spent more than what they earned during the year. The YSR Congress recorded the highest excess spending, with its expenditure exceeding income by nearly 142%, amounting to close to Rs. 200 crore more than its earnings.
Other parties whose expenditure surpassed their income included the Trinamool Congress, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, the BJD, the Janata Dal (United) and the Samajwadi Party.
At the same time, 15 parties reported surplus income after expenditure. The Telugu Desam Party recorded the highest unspent surplus at Rs. 167 crore, followed by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, both of which retained around Rs. 36 crore each.
The report found that the combined income of 36 recognised regional parties dropped by more than 51% compared to the previous year.
According to the ADR analysis, the total income declared by these parties stood at Rs. 1,193 crore in 2024-25, a sharp decline from Rs. 2,463 crore recorded in the previous financial year. This marked a fall of nearly Rs. 1,270 crore, or 51.6%.
Despite the decline in earnings, the expenditure declared by these parties collectively touched Rs. 1,433 crore, exceeding their combined income by around Rs. 240 crore, or nearly 20%.
The ADR examined audited financial statements of 36 out of the 67 recognised regional parties whose audit reports for 2024-25 were available on the Election Commission website. It noted that 31 parties had still not uploaded their audit reports even 207 days after the October 31, 2025 deadline.
Among the parties analysed, the top five accounted for close to 69% of the total income and more than 77% of the overall expenditure. The highest income was reported by the Telugu Desam Party at Rs. 228 crore, followed by the All India Trinamool Congress with Rs. 219 crore and the YSR Congress Party with Rs. 140 crore.
On the spending side, the YSR Congress emerged as the biggest spender with expenditure amounting to Rs. 340 crore. It was followed by the Biju Janata Dal at Rs. 288 crore and the Trinamool Congress at Rs. 228 crore.
The report further revealed that 21 of the 36 parties spent more than what they earned during the year. The YSR Congress recorded the highest excess spending, with its expenditure exceeding income by nearly 142%, amounting to close to Rs. 200 crore more than its earnings.
Other parties whose expenditure surpassed their income included the Trinamool Congress, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, the BJD, the Janata Dal (United) and the Samajwadi Party.
At the same time, 15 parties reported surplus income after expenditure. The Telugu Desam Party recorded the highest unspent surplus at Rs. 167 crore, followed by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, both of which retained around Rs. 36 crore each.
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