‘BJP amasses 72% of donations from electoral trusts in 2021-22’

• BJP received Rs 212.05 crore or 82.05 per cent of the total donations from electoral trusts last year
• Congress party income through electoral trusts less than TRS, SP, AAP, YSRC
• Out of 89 corporate/business houses making contributions to the tune of 475.80 crore to electoral trusts in FY 2021-22, 62 corporates contributed ₹456.30 crore to Prudent Electoral Trusts.

Power begets money and money begets power. Ever since the BJP came to power at the Centre, the donations to the saffron party has increased manifold.

The BJP received the highest number of donations through electoral trusts in 2021-22, amassing funds to the tune of ₹351.50 crore or 72.17 per cent of the total donations made to political parties, according to a report published by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The Congress lagged far behind as compared to parties such as the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

“BJP received ₹351.50 cr or 72.17% of the total donations received by all political parties from Electoral Trusts. Telangana Rashtra Samiti (now known as Bharat Rashtra Samiti) received ₹40.00 crore or 8.21% of the total donations from all parties from all six Electoral Trusts,” the report said.

Electoral trusts are non-profit organisations formed for political parties to receive contributions from corporate entities and individuals in an orderly manner. The trusts aim at improving transparency in the usage of funds for election-related expenses, reported Hindustan Times.

The ADR publishes annual reports on contributions through electoral trusts. The organization works for strengthening governance and enhancing transparency.

Eight other parties, including the SP, AAP, YSR-Congress, Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Punjab Lok Congress Party, Goa Forward Party, and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) received a total of ₹95.56 cr collectively, said the ADR.

The leading contributor to the BJP is the Prudent Electoral Trust which donated ₹336.50 cr to the BJP, an increase as compared to ₹209 crore contributed in FY 2020-21. Meanwhile, AB General Electoral Trust and Samaj Electoral Trust donated ₹10 crore and ₹5 crore, respectively, of their total income to the BJP in FY 2021-22, according to the ADR.

The Congress obtained ₹18.44 crore from electoral trusts, while the Samajwadi Party gained ₹27 crore. The AAP and the YSR-Congress received donations of ₹21.12 crore and ₹20 crore, respectively, as per the ADR report.

The Shiromani Akali Dal received ₹7 crore, while the Punjab Lok Congress Party obtained ₹1 crore. The Goa Forward Party and the DMK received ₹50 lakh each through electoral trusts.

Out of 89 corporate/business houses making contributions to the tune of 475.80 crore to electoral trusts in FY 2021-22, 62 corporates contributed ₹456.30 crore to Prudent Electoral Trusts. Meanwhile, two corporates provided ₹10 crore in donations to AB General Electoral Trust while three corporates contributed ₹5 crore to Samaj Electoral Trust.

Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India, the steel manufacturing joint venture, contributed the highest amount of ₹70 crore among all donors of the Electoral Trusts, followed closely by an affiliated firm, Arcelor Mittal Design and Engg Centre Pvt Ltd at ₹60 crore. Telecom major Bharti Airtel Limited contributed ₹51 crore to several trusts.

ADR’s analysis of electoral funds in the past year showed that out of all political parties, the BJP received ₹212.05 crore or 82.05 per cent of the total donations from electoral trusts. In 2021-22, the BJP’s share of donations from corporations fell by nearly 10 per cent as compared to FY 2020-21; the funds it received have surged by nearly ₹130 crore, reported HT.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM