The party earned 44.02 per cent extra income in 2014 compared to the year before when it was in the Opposition. The difference in earning is a staggering Rs 296.62 crore over the financial year 2013-14.

NEW DELHI – The ruling BJP is the richest national party having recorded the highest income of Rs 970.43 crore in 2014-15, the year PM Narendra Modi led it to victory in May 2014.

The party earned 44.02 per cent extra income in 2014 compared to the year before when it was in the Opposition. The difference in earning is a staggering Rs 296.62 crore over the financial year 2013-14

These details are part of the income and expenditure analysis of national parties conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms which works for transparency in governance. Based on the

I-T returns filed before the Election Commission, the analysis presents details of the receipts and expenses of five national parties, except the Congress, which did not submit audited accounts to the EC. The analysis covers the BJP, CPM, CPI, BSP and the NCP and shows that the BSP posted the second highest increase of Rs 45.04 crore in its annual income between 2013 and 2014, a whopping 67 per cent improvement in the income of the party.

Together, the five national parties had a total income of Rs 1,275.79 crore during 2014-15, with the BJP alone commanding 76.06 per cent of this with its yearly earning of Rs 970.43 crore. The next highest income was earned by the CPM at Rs 123.92 crore followed by the BSP at Rs 111.95 crore, NCP Rs 67.64 crore and CPI Rs 1.84 crore. Most of the income came from unknown sources.