Published Feb 23, 2026 | 8:42 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 23, 2026 | 8:49 PM
Electoral Trusts received large contributions from corporate donors in 2024–25.
Synopsis: Electoral Trusts disbursed ₹3,826.3522 crore to political parties in 2024–25, of which the BJP received ₹3,157.6549 crore, or 82.52 percent, according to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms. Corporate donors contributed the largest share of funds, with Elevated Avenue Realty LLP giving ₹500 crore, and the top 10 donors together accounting for ₹1,915.8621 crore, or 50.07 percent of total donations received by electoral trusts.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received an overwhelming share of contributions disbursed by Electoral Trusts in the financial year 2024–25, at ₹3,157.6549 crore, or 82.52 percent of the total amount, according to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) based on figures from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Of the total ₹3,826.3522 crore disbursed during the year, the remaining 21 parties together received just ₹668.6973 crore, or 17.48 percent.
Prudent Electoral Trust alone disbursed ₹2,668.4647 crore, accounting for 69.74 percent of all funds distributed. Progressive Electoral Trust followed with ₹914.97 crore. Together, the two trusts disbursed ₹3,583.4347 crore, forming the bulk of electoral trust funding routed to parties in 2024–25.
These disclosures were filed under guidelines issued by the ECI on 6 June 2014, which require electoral trusts formed after January 2013 and approved by the CBDT to submit annual reports detailing contributions received and amounts disbursed to political parties.
Fifteen of the 20 Electoral Trusts registered with the Central Board of Direct Taxes submitted contribution reports for the year. Of these, 10 declared that they had received donations.
The BJP received ₹2,180.7119 crore from Prudent Electoral Trust, ₹757.6205 crore from Progressive Electoral Trust, ₹150 crore from New Democratic Electoral Trust, ₹30.15 crore from Harmony Electoral Trust, ₹21 crore from Triumph Electoral Trust, ₹15 crore from Bhartiya Bhumi Electoral Trust, ₹3 crore from Samaj Electoral Trust, ₹9.50 lakh from Jankalyan Electoral Trust and ₹7.75 lakh from Einzigartig Electoral Trust, taking its total to ₹3,157.6549 crore.
Share of funds disbursed to political parties. Courtesy: Association for Democratic Reforms
The Congress received ₹216.335 crore from Prudent, ₹77.3495 crore from Progressive, ₹5 crore from New Democratic and ₹9.50 lakh from Jankalyan, taking its total to ₹298.7795 crore.
The All India Trinamool Congress received ₹92 crore from Prudent and ₹10 crore from Progressive, totalling ₹102 crore. YSR Congress received ₹88 crore from Prudent and ₹10 crore from Progressive, totalling ₹98 crore. The Telugu Desam Party received ₹40 crore from Prudent and ₹4 crore from Triumph, totalling ₹44 crore.
Janata Dal (United) received ₹5 crore from Prudent, ₹10 crore from Progressive and ₹2 crore from Samaj, totalling ₹17 crore. The Aam Aadmi Party received ₹16.4178 crore from Prudent. Biju Janata Dal and Bharat Rashtra Samithi received ₹5 crore each from Prudent and ₹10 crore each from Progressive, totalling ₹15 crore each.
Bharath Dharma Jana Sena received ₹10 crore from Prudent. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) received ₹10 crore each from Progressive. Shiv Sena received ₹10 crore from Progressive.
Share of funds disbursed to political parties. Courtesy: Association for Democratic Reforms
Shiv Sena (UBT) received ₹5 crore from New Democratic, ₹3 crore from Harmony and ₹1 crore from Janpragati, totalling ₹9 crore. AJSU Party received ₹5 crore from Prudent, while SDF received ₹2.50 crore from Prudent.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) received ₹2 crore from Harmony. Jammu & Kashmir National Conference received ₹1 crore from Samaj. Lok Janshakti Party received ₹1 crore from Prudent. Nationalist Congress Party received ₹1 crore from Prudent.
Maharashtra Swarajya Party received ₹0.50 crore from Harmony, while Praja Shanthi Party received ₹0.50 crore from Prudent.
Electoral Trusts received large contributions from corporate donors in 2024–25.
Elevated Avenue Realty LLP contributed ₹500 crore, the highest amount reported by any donor during the year. Tata Sons Private Limited gave ₹308.1324 crore, followed by Tata Consultancy Services Limited with ₹217.6216 crore and Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited with ₹175 crore.
The top 10 donors together contributed ₹1,915.8621 crore, forming 50.07 percent of the total donations received by electoral trusts in 2024–25. This means half of all reported contributions came from just 10 donors.
Individual contributions were far fewer in number. Only 99 individuals donated during the year. Of these, 96 individuals contributed ₹187.5427 crore to Prudent Electoral Trust, while three individuals contributed ₹8 lakh to Einzigartig Electoral Trust.
In 2023–24, the highest disclosed corporate contributions were lower. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Ltd and DLF Ltd contributed ₹100 crore each. Maatha Projects LLP gave ₹75 crore, while CESC Ltd and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd contributed ₹60 crore each to various trusts.
The ADR noted that the current naming of electoral trusts does not disclose the companies or corporate groups that set them up. It called for including the parent company’s name in the trust’s title to make the source of corporate funding to political parties clearer.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
