National Desk, 15th March: The recent release of the list of entities purchasing electoral bonds for political donations has shed light on a diverse array of contributors, ranging from prominent corporate giants to lesser-known entities.
Among the names unveiled by the Election Commission, one of the most significant donors appears to be Future Gaming and Hotel Services, a lottery company owned by Santiago Martin. Despite its relatively low profile, the company reportedly acquired electoral bonds worth over Rs 1,350 crore.
The disclosed list includes several renowned figures from the corporate sector, such as steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, whose individual contribution amounted to Rs 35 crore, and Sunil Mittal’s Airtel group, which collectively purchased bonds worth Rs 246 crore. Additionally, Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Ltd. acquired bonds worth Rs 398 crore, while Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering invested a substantial sum of Rs 966 crore.
However, the unveiled data does not specify which political party received donations from each entity. Nevertheless, it is evident that both major political entities, the BJP and the Congress, received significant contributions. The BJP emerged as the primary beneficiary, securing donations exceeding Rs 6,000 crore, followed by the Congress.
The release of this information comes in response to a Supreme Court directive, mandating transparency in political funding. The State Bank of India, as the authorized seller of electoral bonds, provided details of transactions between April 1, 2019, and February 15, 2024, revealing a total of 22,217 electoral bonds purchased during this period.
While the constitutional bench had previously deemed the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional, citing anonymity in political funding, the subsequent disclosure by the Election Commission marks a significant step towards transparency in political financing.
Moving forward, the revelation of corporate donors and their contributions underscores the evolving landscape of political funding in India, raising pertinent questions about accountability, transparency, and the role of corporate entities in shaping the country’s political landscape.
Read More: Tripura to get tea auction centre, CM lays foundation stone