The ruling Congress party and the principal Opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), together secured about Rs 3,000 crore between 2003-04 and 2010-11 through donations and contributions from companies and trusts.
According to a report by non-government organisation National Election Watch and Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), on the basis of income tax returns filed by political parties, national parties and some important regional parties have collectively received more than Rs 4,500 crore in the seven-year period.
The Congress received a whopping Rs 2,008 crore since it returned to power in 2004, while BJP got Rs 994 crore. The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) received the third-highest funding (Rs 484 crore), while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) got Rs 417 crore, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Rs 160 crore and the Samajwadi Party (SP) Rs 278 crore during the period.
Though several political parties have bitter ideological differences and refuse to come together on issues related to major reforms, they receive funds from the same companies — those that fund the government in power, as well as opposition parties.
The report states Torrent Power is one of the major sources of funding for the Congress, as well as for the BJP. The company paid Rs 14.15 crore to the Congress, while BJP received Rs 13 crore.
Similarly, General Electoral Trust donated about Rs 36.4 crore to the Congress and Rs 26 crore to BJP. Videocon Industries gave Rs 10 crore to NCP and Rs 15 crore to Janata Dal (United), part of the National Democratic Alliance.
“It is a black box of political parties. The basic source of corruption in this country is political funding. By regulating political funding, we cannot end corruption, but we can make a major dent,” said Jagdeep Chhokar, founder member of ADR.
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ADR’s investigation report suggests the Congress received most of its funds through sale of coupons, donations and interest, while BJP received funds through voluntary contributions and interest.
BSP received Rs 484 crore in the seven-year period, with all the funds collected through donations below Rs 20,000.
| WHOPPING MOP-UP | |||
| Name | Total donation in 7 years (Rs cr) | Trust donors | Company donors |
| Congress | 2,008 | General Electoral Trust, Bharti Electoral Trust | Torrent Power Limited, Sterlite Industries, Madras Aluminium Company Limited |
| BJP | 994 | General Electoral Trust, Public and Political Awareness Trust | Torrent Power Limited, Asianet V Holding Private Ltd |
| BSP | 484 | NA | NA |
| CPI(M) | 417 | NA | SEW Infrastructure Limited, SEW Constructions, SEW |
| NCP | 160 | Satya Electoral Trust | Torrent Power Limited, Videocon Industries Limited |
| Samajwadi Party | 278 | General Electoral Trust, Electoral Trust | ITC Limited, Honda Siel Cars India Limited |
| DMK | 44 | NA | NA |
| AIADMK | 59 | NA | NA |
| *NA - Political parties receive donations from individuals This is only an indicative list of donors | |||
“The Election Commission has sent several proposals to the Union government to have better control on political funding, but none of the political parties has acted on these proposals,” Chhokar said.