According to an analysis by the election watch body Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), business houses handed out a total of 956.77 crores to national parties between 2012-13 and 2015-16 with BJP getting the biggest share at 704.81 crores.
The report, which analysed funding received by five national parties- BJP, Congress, NCP, CPI and CPM-found that Congress received 198.16 crores from 167 corporate donors, and was the second highest beneficiary of corporate donations. NCP received 50.73 crores, followed by CPM ( 1.89 crores) and CPI ( 0.18 crore), reported TOI.
Notably, according to the report, ADR added that BSP was not considered for analysis as the party has declared that it received no voluntary contributions above 20,000 from any donor between 2012-13 and 2015-16.
“Between 2012-13 and 2015-16, five national parties received a total of 1,070.68 crores via voluntary contributions above 20,000 out of which 89 percent of 956.77 crores was from corporates houses,” said ADR in its report.
In the period analysed, BJP’s and Congress’ voluntary contributions above Rs 20,000 from business houses was 92% and 85%, respectively. CPM and CPI have the lowest share of corporate donations at 17% and 4%.
Also, as per an earlier report by ADR, various business houses donated a total of 378.89 crores to national parties in eight years, between financial years 2004-05 and 2011-12. All the data analysed was from the EC, based on filings by political parties to the EC. Political parties are required to submit details of donors who have made donations above 20,000 to the EC.
