New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party received the highest chunk of poltical donations in 2014-15, the year India voted it to power.
An analysis by Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) reveals, Six electoral trusts — Satya Electoral Trust, Progressive Electoral Trust, Janpragati Electoral Trust, Bajaj Electoral Trust, Triumph Electoral Trust and Samaj Electoral Trust — together donated Rs 177.40 crore to 19 political parties in 2014-15.
Of this BJP was the major beneficiary with Rs 111.35 (63%) coming to its kitty while Congress was a distant second with just Rs 31.658 (18%) crore and NCP, third, Rs 6.8 crore (4%). from such trusts in the same period.
Indiabulls contributed Rs 40 crore which formed 22.5% of the total donations to the Satya Electoral Trust followed by Rs 25 crore from DLF Ltd which constituted 14.1% of total donations, the report said.
Satya Electoral Trust was the biggest donor to BJP. According to ADR's analysis, Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd and DLF Ltd were the two top companies contributing to this trust. BJP received donation from three electoral trusts, the study found.
Satya Electoral Trust also contributed to other parties, including Rs 18.8 crore to Congress, Rs 6 crore to NCP, Rs 5 crore to INLD and Rs 1 crore to JD(U), SP, LJP and TDP. It also gave Rs 50 lakh to RJD.
According to the rules formulated by the government, electoral trusts are required to donate 95% of their total income to registered political parties in a financial year.
