New Delhi: Political parties contesting the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections collected funds worth Rs 281.32 crore and spent Rs 193.47 crore during the poll period, with publicity accounting for the largest share of expenditure, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms.The report analysed expenditure statements filed by five national parties -- BJP, Congress, AAP, BSP and CPI(M) -- and five regional parties -- RJD, JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), AIMIM and CPI.According to the report, the 10 parties together collected Rs 281.323 crore while their total expenditure stood at Rs 193.466 crore, leaving a gap of nearly Rs 88 crore between funds raised and expenditure declared.Publicity emerged as the single largest expenditure head, accounting for Rs 100.429 crore or 36.68 per cent of the total spending. Parties also spent Rs 79.539 crore on travel expenses and Rs 62.072 crore as lump-sum payments to candidates.Expenditure on virtual campaigning through social media platforms and other digital means stood at Rs 13.074 crore, while parties spent Rs 3.886 crore on publishing the criminal antecedents of candidates, as mandated by the Election Commission. Miscellaneous expenses amounted to Rs 14.804 crore.The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report noted that travel expenses constituted 29.05 per cent of the total expenditure declared under various heads, making it the second-largest component of election spending after publicity.A total of 161 political parties, including six national parties, 10 regional parties and 145 registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs), contested the Bihar Assembly elections. However, the analysis was confined to 10 major parties whose expenditure statements were available.The BSP was the only party among those analysed that did not declare any funds collected either at its central headquarters or state-unit level during the Bihar Assembly election period, the report said.ADR said political parties are required to submit statements detailing funds collected and expenditure incurred by their central headquarters and state units during the election period to the Election Commission within the prescribed time limit after the completion of elections.The report was based on expenditure statements submitted by political parties to the Election Commission following the Bihar Assembly elections held in 2025.