Ad spend may double to Rs 30 bn in 2019 polls; social media to see big jump

Parties expected to splurge a fourth of advertising budget on social media

Over the past few months, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in power along with alliance partners, has been releasing advertisements on television, promoting its achievements. Other political parties are also gradually stepping up their campaigns, with less than six months left for the general election.

According to top advertising executives Business Standard spoke to, the spending on political advertising during the 2019 polls is expected to double to Rs 30 billion from Rs 15 billion five years ago, pointing to a media blitzkrieg that awaits voters.

Social media is likely to account for at least a fourth of