Bihar Election Spending: A Detailed Analysis

An in-depth report from the Association for Democratic Reforms reveals spending patterns in the recent Bihar elections. The analysis indicates that winning candidates spent an average of Rs 24.33 lakh. Among the 240 elected MLAs, 42% declared expenses of less than 61% of the permissible Rs 40 lakh limit.

Breaking it down by party, BJP MLAs spent an average of Rs 27.36 lakh, 68.4% of the limit. JD(U) MLAs reported an average expenditure of Rs 25.53 lakh, composing 63.8% of the expense ceiling. In comparison, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) candidates spent Rs 19.60 lakh, just 49% of the cap.

The data spots Alok Kumar Mehta of the RJD as the top spender at Rs 36.55 lakh, which is approximately 91% of the prescribed limit, while JD(U)'s Nagendra Raut recorded the lowest expenditure at just Rs 79,000. The report shows that 70% of funding came from political parties, with the remainder raised by candidates and other sources.