BJP pocketed maximum donations: Association for Democratic Reforms

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 4

Donations received by the BJP during FY 2019-20 were more than three times the aggregate declared by the INC, NCP, CPI, CPM and AITC put together for the same period (Rs 785.77 crore against Rs 228.035 crore declared by the remaining parties).

This is the finding of a report prepared by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on donations above Rs 20,000 received by national political parties during FY 2019-20, as submitted by the parties to the Election Commission.

Total donations of the national parties during FY 2019-20 increased by Rs 62.145 crore, an increase of 6.53 per cent from the previous financial year 2018-19.

Donations to the BJP increased from Rs 742.15 crore during FY 2018-19 to Rs 785.77 crore during FY 2019-20 (5.88 per cent increase). On the other hand, INC donations decreased — from Rs 148.58 crore during FY 2018-19 to Rs 139.016 crore during FY 2019-20 (6.44 per cent drop). Highest percentage increase in donations was declared by the CPM (551 per cent). In the case of AITC (All India Trinamool Congress), there was a sharp drop in donations by more than 81 per cent in FY 2019-20 compared to the previous year. Like past 14 years, the BSP once again declared that the party did not receive any donation above Rs 20,000.

Congress funding diminishes

• Total donations declared by national parties for FY 2019-20 were Rs1,013.805 crore from 6,363 contributions
• Rs785.77 crore from 5,576 donations was declared by BJP, followed by Rs139.016 cr from 350 donations by Congress
• Donations to BJP increased from Rs742.15 crore during FY 2018-19 to Rs785.77 cr during FY 2019-20
• INC donations decreased — from Rs148.58 crore during FY 2018-19 to Rs139.016 crore during FY 2019-20