India’s elections have always been competitive, but recent financial disclosures show the playing field is becoming increasingly unequal. Data submitted to the Election Commission of India indicates that the gap in election spending between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress has widened sharply over the past decade, raising important questions about the future character of electoral competition. In the financial year 2014-15, when the general election was held, the BJP reported election-related expenditure of about Rs 925 crore, while the Congress spent roughly Rs 582 crore.

Five years later, during the 2019-20 election cycle, the BJP’s spending rose to Rs 1,352 crore compared to the Congress’s Rs 864 crore. The disparity existed, but it remained within a broadly comparable range. That balance shifted decisively in 2024-25. According to Election Commission filings, the BJP spent approximately Rs 3,355 crore on elections and general propaganda. The........

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