Electoral bonds scrapped, but corporate funding continues: 82% donations go to BJP, Cong gets 8%

Corporate funding to political parties has continued even after the Supreme Court of India struck down the electoral bond scheme, with the Bharatiya Janata Party receiving the lion’s share of donations.

According to data reported from disclosures to the Election Commission, 21 electoral trusts donated a total of ₹3,811 crore to political parties in 2024–25. Of this, the BJP received ₹3,112 crore, accounting for about 82% of the total donations. The Indian National Congress received ₹299 crore (around 8%), while other parties together got about ₹400 crore (10%).

The figures show a sharp rise in trust-based political funding, with donations in 2024–25 nearly 200% higher than the ₹1,218 crore reported in 2023–24. Of the 19 registered electoral trusts, 13 reported donations during the year, while four trusts Janhit, Parivartan, Jai Hind and Jai Bharat did not contribute to any party.

One major electoral trust alone donated ₹2,668 crore, of which ₹2,180.07 crore (82%) went to the BJP. The trust reportedly received contributions from large corporate groups, including companies in the steel, infrastructure, telecom and pharmaceutical sectors. Smaller amounts were also given to the Congress, the Telugu Desam Party and other parties.

Another donor, the Progressive Electoral Trust, reportedly received ₹916 crore in the same financial year, which was subsequently distributed among political parties.

The data indicates that although electoral bonds have been discontinued, corporate political funding remains substantial and heavily tilted towards the BJP.