The Association for Democratic Reforms has found that national parties collected Rs 15,077 crore from unknown sources between 2004 and 2020.
HIGHLIGHTS
- According to ADR analysis, national parties collected over Rs 15,000 crore from unknown sources between 2004-05 and 2020-21
- ADR considered eight national parties for the analysis
- BJP declared Rs 100.502 crore as income from unknown sources
The national parties in the country collected more than Rs 15,077.97 crore from unknown sources between 2004-05 and 2020-21, according to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The poll rights body considered eight national parties and 27 regional parties for this analysis.
The total income of national and regional parties from unknown sources for 2020-21 stands at Rs 690.67 crore.
The analysis was conducted on the basis of the parties' Income Tax Returns (ITR) and donations statements filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The national parties comprised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Community Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and National People's Party (NPEP).
The regional parties included AAP, AGP, AIADMK, AIFB, AIMIM, AIUDF, BJD, CPI(ML)(L), DMDK, DMK, GFP, JDS, JDU, JMM, KC-M, MNS, NDPP, NPF, PMK, RLD, SAD, SDF, Shivsena, SKM, TDP, TRS and YSR-Congress.
As per the report, eight national parties have declared Rs 426.742 crore income from unknown sources and 27 regional parties received Rs 263.928 crore income from unknown sources.
During 2020-21, Congress declared Rs 178.782 crore as income from unknown sources, which is 41.89 per cent of the total income of national parties from unknown sources.
The BJP declared Rs 100.502 crore as income from unknown sources, which is 23.55 per cent of the total income of national parties from unknown sources.
The top five regional parties in terms of unknown income are YSR-Congress with Rs 96.2507 crore, DMK with Rs 80.02 crore, BJD with Rs 67 crore, MNS with Rs 5.773 crore and AAP with Rs 5.4 crore. 47.06 per cent of the total Rs 690.67 cr account for the income from electoral bonds.
The ADR said the combined income of Congress and NCP from the sale of coupons between FY 2004-05 and 2020-21 stands at Rs 4,261.83 crore.
There are reporting discrepancies in the audit and contribution reports of seven political parties for FY 2020-21. These seven parties include AITC, CPI, AAP, SAD, KC-M, AIFB and AIUDF.
Total income of political parties from known donors is Rs 713.143 crore, which is 37.40 % of the total income of the parties.
Other known sources of income include sale of moveable and immoveable assets, old newspapers, membership fees, delegate fee, bank interest, sale of publications and levy whose details would be available in the books of accounts maintained by political parties.