The Congress spent a whopping Rs 125 crore in the last Lok Sabha election to counter the 'feel good' campaign of the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.
After being in political wilderness at the Centre for eight years, the Congress left nothing to chance in the 'do-or-die' battle of the ballot and spent several times more than most other national parties during the polls.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) spent over Rs 8.26 crore in the election, followed by the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party at Rs 4 crore. The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party spent a frugal Rs 31 lakh, while the Communist Party of India spent Rs 28 lakh.
The BJP has so far not filed its election expenditure statement to the Election Commission.
According to the statement given by the Congress to the commission, it spent nearly Rs 49 crore on publicity. With mobility being the key to an active campaign, the Congress ran a bill of Rs 8.71 crore for ferrying its top leaders across the country.
The party, which contested some 400-odd seats, its least in recent memory, spent nearly Rs 60 crore on its candidates.
