The BJP is the richest among the seven national parties and its assets amounting to Rs 123 crore in 2004-05, increased by around 627.15 per cent in 11 years up to financial year ending 2015-16, a report by Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has claimed.

Significantly enough, the CPI-M fared better than its arch rival Trinamool Congress – which had assets worth Rs 44.99 crore while the assets of Marxists’ party was Rs 437.78 crore. While BJP’s assets as in 2015-16 shot up to Rs 894 crore (from Rs 123 crore), the Congress assets grew by 353.41 per cent from 2004-05 to 2015-16.

The declared assets of Congress party by 2015-16 was Rs 759 crore. According to ADR, among the national parties, Mayawati-led BSP emerges third richest with Rs 559.01 crore as in 2015-16 where as its assets were only worth Rs 43.09 crore in 2004-05.

The assets declared by National Parties fall under 6 major heads: fixed assets, loans & advances, FDR/ deposits, TDS, Investments and other assets.  The list also shows Sharad Pawar-led NCP as number 6th and Communist Party of India (CPI) at the bottom of the table. The reports shows that in the 11-year period that came under ADR scrutiny, the Congress possessed more assets than the BJP until 2014-15.

The reserve fund of the BJP also increased by about 700 per cent in the 11-year period, as against 169 per cent of the Congress. Notably again, the highest percentage increase in reserve fund was seen by Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress 13,447 per cent. (UNI)