In charts: BJP received more money from electoral bonds than 30 other parties combined

The Supreme Court has struck down the scheme and asked the Election Commission to publish details of all donations by March 13.

Feb 15, 2024 - 10:00

In charts: BJP received more money from electoral bonds than 30 other parties combined

The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the electoral bond scheme, ruling that it is unconstitutional. The court ruled that the scheme violated the right to information, freedom of speech and could result in quid pro quo arrangements between donors and political parties.

The court has also asked the State Bank of India, which issues the electoral bonds, to provide details of the political parties that received the monetary instruments to the Election Commission of India by March 6. The poll body has been asked directed to publish the details by March 13 on its website.

The electoral bond scheme, introduced by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Union budget in 2017-’18, allows individuals and corporations to make anonymous donations to political parties.

In their audited statements of accounts statements, political parties revealed to the Election Commission only the total amount they had received from electoral bonds but not the identity of donors.

Data from these statements show that since the electoral bonds scheme was announced in Union Budget for 2017-’18, the Bharatiya Janata Party received, by far, the lion’s share of donations through electoral bonds.