Electoral Bond Data: TMC Biggest Gainer Among Regional Parties, BRS At Rs 1214.70 Cr
Trinamool Congress Party of West Bengal led by Mamta Banerjee received Rs 1609.50 Crore funds via electoral bonds, one of the highest amounts any regional political party received.
On Thursday, The Election Commission of India uploaded the data on electoral bonds on its website as received from SBI on “as is where is basis”.
The release also added, “In compliance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court's directions, contained in its order dated Feb 15 & March 11, 2024 (in the matter of WPC NO.880 of 2017), the State Bank of India (SBI) had provided the data pertaining to the electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 12, 2024.”
After TMC, Bharat Raksha Samiti (BRS) the regional party of Telangana, became the biggest beneficiary of electoral bonds with Rs 1214.70 crore.
According to the data given by EC, the regional parties of Andhra Pradesh YSR Congress received Rs 337 crore Telugu Desam Party (TDP) got Rs 218.90 crore.
When the election is right around the corner, the intent behind releasing the data on electoral bonds is to maintain transparency and democratic essence in the political arena.
The big name in the politics of Maharashtra and Delhi, Shive Sena gained funds of Rs 159.40 crore and Aam Admi Party benefited from Rs 65.50 crore from the electoral bonds.
The data also signified the number of funds received by Rashtriya Janta Dal and Janta Dal (United) in Bihar is Rs 72.50 crore and Rs 14 crore respectively.
Apart from them, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha raised Rs 36.50 crore, Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh Rs 14.10 crore, Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab Rs 7.30 crore and National Conference in Jammu & Kashmir Rs 0.50 crore.
Further in the matter, SC asked the State Bank of India (SBI) for not to furnish Electoral Bonds data with unique alphanumeric numbers, which help identify the bond, and issued notice to it while seeking the bank's response on Monday.
