According to a report on donations received by various political parties in the country, the BJP received the highest amount of ~ 276.45 crore in 2019-20 through electoral trusts. This amounts to 76 per cent of donations made to all political parties in the country, according to a report by the Paul Rights Group Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). After the BJP, the Congress is the second most funded party with ~ 58 crore.
While the Aam Aadmi Party, SHS, Samajwadi Party, JDU and a total of 12 major political parties received a total of ~ 25.46 crore.
JSW, Apollo Tire, Indiabulls, Delhi International Airport and DLF Group are among the seven most active electoral trusts operating in the country during 2019-20. Compared to all the donors of electoral trusts, JSW Steel had the highest funding of ~ 39.10 crore among various electoral trusts. Apollo Tire provided ~ 300 million and Indiabulls provided ~ 25 million.
These trusts were also funded by 18 individual donors during 2019-20. 10 donated ~ 2.87 crore to Prudential Electoral Trust, 4 donated માં 5.50 lakh to Small Donations Electoral Trust and 4 donated ~ 1 lakh to Swadeshi Electoral Trust.
In order to maintain transparency in election expenses, guidelines were issued by the Election Commission to release details of funds received by the Electoral Trust and the amount given by them to political parties. Currently active electoral trusts include Satya Electoral Trust, Pratinidhi Electoral Trust, Progressive Electoral Trust, Bajaj Electoral Trust etc. Electoral trusts are non-profit companies set up under the Companies Act of India to set up election funds.