Seven electoral trusts received a total amount of Rs 258.49 crore from corporates and individuals, and the Bharatiya Janata Party bagged more than 82 per cent of it, poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms said. Electoral trust is a non-profit organisation formed in India for orderly receiving of contributions from corporate entities and individuals to political parties.

It aims at improving transparency in the usage of funds for election-related expenses. The ADR, in a new report, said 16 out of the 23 electoral trusts submitted details of their contribution for the financial year 2020-21 to the Election Commission of India, of which only seven declared to have received donations.

“Seven electoral trusts which have declared receiving contributions during FY 2020-21, have received a total amount of Rs 258.4915 crore from corporates and individuals and distributed Rs 258.4301 cr (99.98 per cent) to various political parties,” it said. The BJP received Rs 212.05 crore or 82.05 per cent of these donations, while the Janata Dal-United secured Rs 27 crore or 10.45 per cent of the amount.