Electoral trusts fill BJP coffers after scrapping of electoral bonds, shows ECI website
New Delhi: Contrary to expectations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be adversely affected by the Supreme Court’s scrapping of the electoral bonds scheme in February 2024, the party’s finances have seen a significant boost in 2024–25 through electoral trusts. It has emerged that electoral trusts alone donated ₹2,577 crore to the BJP during this period.
Following the abolition of electoral bonds, corporate donors seeking partial anonymity appear to have shifted to the electoral trust route, with the BJP continuing to be the largest beneficiary.
According to data available on the Election Commission of India’s website, a total of ₹4,276 crore was donated through electoral trusts, of which the ruling BJP received 83.6 per cent. Compared to 2023–24, corporate donations flowing to the BJP have increased nearly fourfold. The Congress received 7.3 per cent of the total donations, while the Trinamool Congress accounted for 3.6 per cent.
Donations received through electoral trusts constitute only a portion of the total funds collected by political parties. Parties also receive contributions directly from individuals, corporates, institutions and charitable organisations. Over the past several years, donations from sources other than electoral trusts have also shown a steady increase.
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17-year-old PUC student in Shivamogga drowns while swimming in River Tunga
Shivamogga: A 17-year-old student from Kamakshi Street in the city, Prem Kumar, died of drowning while swimming in River Tunga in Pillangiri village of the taluk recently.
Prem, who was studying in II PUC at DVS College, was visiting the temple in Pillangiri with his friends and got into the river for a swim, when he drowned in the waters of the river.
The youngster’s body has been sent to the mortuary of the McGann Hospital in Shivamogga to conduct a post-mortem examination.
Shivamogga Rural Police visited the spot and held an inspection.
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