Delhi Tops Political Donations In FY 2022-23, BJP Favourite For Corporate Donors
With the Supreme Court's landmark judgement declaring electoral bonds "Unconstitutional," a spotlight is cast on the opaque realm of political funding in India. The ruling, coupled with the recently released report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), has ignited a firestorm of controversy within the political arena.
The ADR report has uncovered startling revelations, exposing significant disparities and concerning lapses in the submission of contribution reports by National political parties for the fiscal year 2022-23.
Despite the Election Commission of India (ECI) setting a deadline of 30 September, 2023, for the submission of financial reports, only the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) adhered to the schedule, with others, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), National People's Party (NPEP), and Indian National Congress (INC), failing to meet the deadline by significant margins.
The shocking lack of transparency and accountability exposed by these revelations underscores the pressing need for robust reforms to uphold the integrity of political financing processes in the nation.
Donations Above Rs 20,000
During the assessment of donations exceeding Rs 20,000, national parties disclosed a cumulative amount of Rs 850.438 crore sourced from 12,167 donations. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the frontrunner, declaring the highest sum of Rs 719.858 crore from 7,945 donations, significantly surpassing its counterparts. In contrast, the Indian National Congress (INC) reported Rs 79.924 crore from 894 donations, indicating a substantial discrepancy in fundraising prowess. Furthermore, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) continued its trend of not disclosing any contributions above Rs 20,000 for the 17th consecutive year, highlighting a consistent stance on transparency in funding practices.
Increase In Donations
In comparison with the financial year 2021-22, there was a notable increase in total donations, amounting to Rs 91.701 crore, reflecting a 12.09 per cent uptick in funding. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) experienced a substantial surge in donations, marking a notable 17.12 per cent increase. Conversely, the Indian National Congress (INC) witnessed a decline in donations, with a reduction of 16.27 per cent, indicating a contrasting trajectory. Moreover, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) encountered decreases in their donation figures by 39.56 per cent and 2.99 per cent respectively, signifying shifts in funding patterns among various political entities over the specified period.
State-wise Donations
Among the states contributing to political donations in the financial year 2022-23, Delhi emerged as the primary contributor, accounting for the highest sum of Rs 276.202 crore. Following closely behind, Gujarat made a substantial contribution of Rs 160.509 crore, while Maharashtra trailed with Rs 96.273 crore. However, it's worth noting that a portion of the donations, totaling Rs 22.348 crore, remained unattributed to any specific state due to incomplete information provided by the parties. This lack of clarity underscores the importance of transparency and thorough documentation in the reporting of political contributions, ensuring accountability and integrity in the electoral process.
Major Donors
In the financial year 2022-23, corporate and business sectors emerged as major contributors to the funding of National political parties, collectively providing a substantial sum of Rs 680.495 crore, which accounted for approximately 80.017 per cent of the total donations received. In contrast, individual donors contributed Rs 166.621 crore, constituting 19.592 per cent of the overall donations. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the primary beneficiary of corporate contributions, receiving a staggering Rs 610.491 crore from corporate donors, alongside Rs 106.724 crore from individual donors. Conversely, the Indian National Congress (INC) received comparatively lesser contributions from both sectors, garnering Rs 55.625 crore from corporate donors and Rs 24.249 crore from individuals.
The dominance of BJP in corporate funding was further underscored by its reception of more than eight times the total corporate donations amassed by all other National parties combined. This detailed analysis provides valuable insights into the funding dynamics of National political parties in FY 2022-23, highlighting the significant role played by corporate sectors and showcasing disparities in donation trends among different parties.
