BJP spent Rs 287 crore in Bengal polls, over half its five-state election bill

NEW DELHI: BJP spent Rs 287 crore on its campaign and candidates during the April 2026 polls in West Bengal, which accounted for more than 54% of its total expenditure of Rs 529 crore in five assembly elections earlier this year, according to statements filed with EC.Besides Bengal, polls were held in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry.BJP trumped the governing TMC in Bengal, bagging 207 of the 293 seats while Trinamool managed 80.Congress, which contested all 293 seats in Bengal, spent Rs 42 crore, according to election expenditure reports submitted before EC. It won two seats in Bengal. CPM won only one seat, and incurred expenditure of Rs 8 crore in Bengal. TMC is yet to submit its report to EC.In Keralam, Congress spent Rs 105 crore and won 63 seats, ousting the CPM-led front which managed only 26.