NEW DELHI: Electoral trusts disbursed Rs 3,826 crore to political parties in 2024–25, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) receiving more than 82 per cent of the total, according to a report released on Friday by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).Analysing contribution filings submitted to the Election Commission of India, the NGO said electoral trusts received Rs 3,826.34 crore during the financial year and distributed Rs 3,826.35 crore, in line with rules that require trusts to disburse at least 95 per cent of collections annually, news agency PTI reported quoting the report. Of the 20 registered trusts, 10 reported receiving donations, while reports from five were still unavailable on the EC website more than three months after the deadline.The BJP received Rs 3,157.65 crore, or 82.52 per cent of the funds distributed. The Indian National Congress was a distant second with Rs 298.78 crore (7.81 per cent), followed by the All India Trinamool Congress with Rs 102 crore (2.67 per cent). Nineteen other parties together shared Rs 267.92 crore.Among the trusts, Prudent Electoral Trust accounted for the largest outflow, distributing Rs 2,668.46 crore to 15 parties, while Progressive Electoral Trust donated Rs 914.97 crore to 10 parties. ADR said 228 corporates and business houses contributed Rs 3,636.82 crore during the year, while 99 individuals donated Rs 187.62 crore. The top 10 donors together accounted for nearly half the total at Rs 1,908.86 crore. Elevated Avenue Realty LLP emerged as the single-largest contributor with Rs 500 crore, followed by Tata Sons Private Limited (Rs 308.13 crore), Tata Consultancy Services Limited (Rs 217.62 crore) and Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (Rs 175 crore).By sector, manufacturing led contributions at Rs 1,063.13 crore (27.78 per cent), followed by real estate (Rs 629.17 crore or 16.44 per cent) and communication, IT and telecom (Rs 451.86 crore or 11.81 per cent). Maharashtra was the biggest source state with Rs 1,225.43 crore, ahead of Telangana (Rs 358.25 crore), Haryana (Rs 212.9 crore), West Bengal (Rs 203.85 crore) and Gujarat (Rs 200.5 crore). However, ADR flagged that donor addresses were not disclosed for contributions worth Rs 1,065.20 crore, most of which went to Prudent Electoral Trust.The report also pointed to compliance gaps. Five of the 15 trusts that filed annual reports declared nil contributions, while reports from Swadeshi Electoral Trust, AB General Electoral Trust, PD General Electoral Trust, Janta Nirvachak Electoral Trust and Independent Electoral Trust were missing from the EC portal. ADR further noted that Harmony Electoral Trust disbursed Rs 35.65 crore, about Rs 10 lakh more than it received during the year.Calling for greater transparency, ADR said trusts failing to comply with EC guidelines should face strict action and urged mandatory public disclosure of corporate political donations through company filings.The report comes a year after the Supreme Court of India struck down the electoral bonds scheme in February 2024, ruling that anonymous political funding violated voters’ right to information. Go to Source
