The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has declared a significantly larger bank balance compared to the Indian National Congress, highlighting a growing disparity in financial resources between the two major political parties in India.

As of late 2025, the BJP's bank balance is reported to be approximately ₹6,900 crore, while the Congress possesses a considerably smaller ₹53 crore. This vast difference in financial strength has sparked debate regarding the level playing field in Indian democracy and electoral competition.

Congress treasurer Ajay Maken has voiced concerns in the Rajya Sabha about the growing financial asymmetry between the BJP and Congress. Maken pointed out that in 2004, the BJP had a bank balance of ₹87.96 crore compared to the Congress's ₹38 crore. By 2009, the Congress had ₹221 crore, while the BJP had ₹150 crore. However, by 2019, the BJP's balance had surged to ₹3,562 crore, 11 times higher than the Congress's ₹315 crore. In 2024, the BJP's balance reached ₹10,107.2 crore, approximately 75 times more than the Congress's ₹133.97 crore. Maken argued that such a financial imbalance undermines fair electoral competition.

The BJP's substantial financial advantage allows it to outspend the Congress on various fronts, including advertising, campaign resources, and candidate support. In the fiscal year 2023-24, the BJP spent ₹1,754.06 crore, a 60% increase from the previous year. Of this, ₹591 crore was spent on advertisements, and ₹174 crore on aircraft and helicopters. The Congress, in comparison, has significantly less financial flexibility.

The sources of political funding in India have been a subject of scrutiny and debate. The now-scrapped Electoral Bond Scheme, which allowed for anonymous donations to political parties, was a significant contributor to party finances. The Supreme Court deemed the scheme unconstitutional in February 2024 and ordered the disclosure of donors and beneficiaries.

Despite the scheme's abolishment, the BJP's donations surged to ₹6,088 crore in 2024-25, a 53% increase from the previous year. Electoral trusts and corporations accounted for a major share of these donations. The BJP's corpus is almost 12 times bigger than Congress's, which stood at ₹522.13 crore in 2024-25.

Concerns have also been raised about the freezing of Congress bank accounts just before the 2024 general elections. The Congress alleged that the Income Tax Department froze its accounts based on a demand of ₹210 crore. While the Income Tax Appellate Authority granted interim relief, this incident fueled accusations of the government using tactics to deprive opposition parties of funds.

The financial disparity between the BJP and the Congress raises questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process in India. While the BJP has consistently maintained a strong financial position, the Congress has faced challenges in raising funds and competing effectively. The debate over political funding and its impact on democracy is likely to continue as India approaches future elections.