The Trinamool Congress (TMC) highlighted an 84% surge in the Union government’s advertisement expenditure, rising from Rs 349.24 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 643.63 crore in 2024-25, totaling Rs 2,320.14 crore over five years, according to data from the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) website.

TMC leader Derek O’Brien criticized the government for evading a direct response during Rajya Sabha’s Question Hour on August 8, when he sought details on ad spending for newspapers and television over the past five years. Instead, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan directed MPs to the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) website.

O’Brien, slamming the government’s response as a “mockery of Parliament,” noted that TMC’s analysis of DAVP data revealed fluctuations: Rs 274.87 crore in 2021-22, Rs 347.38 crore in 2022-23, and a sharp jump to Rs 656.08 crore in the pre-election year 2023-24. “Startling figures that show how the PM has become PRM (Public Relations Minister),” O’Brien told PTI, accusing the government of prioritizing publicity over transparency.

The average annual ad spend across 66 ministries stands at Rs 454 crore. TMC’s critique underscores concerns about the government’s accountability and its use of public funds for advertising amid rising political tensions.

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