Individuals contribute just 5.6% to BJP kitty

INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNT FOR just 5.6% of the total donations to the BJP, with the remaining amount coming from electoral trusts, corporations and other businesses, while the Congress got 26% of its contributions from individual donors, the parties’ annual contribution reports of 2024-2025 show.

- JATIN ANAND, ASAD REHMAN, SHUJITH P KUNHITTY, ANJISHNU DAS & DAMINI NATH

The reports published by the Election Commission this month show that the BJP got ₹345 crore from this category of donors and the Congress ₹139 crore during this period — at least 2,045 individuals donated to the BJP and 2,386 to the Congress.

It has been reported on December 22 that the BJP’s contribution report for 2024-25, the year Lok Sabha elections were held, showed that it received ₹6,088 crore during the year — about 53% higher than ₹3,967 crore it received in 2023-24 and almost 12 times more than Congress’ ₹516 crore in the same period.

According to Election Commission rules, parties are required to submit details of all donations above ₹20,000 made through cheque, bank transfer, UPI or DD — donations in cash can be made only up to ₹20,000.

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