BJP Cornered 85% of Political Donations in 2024–25, Shows Election Commission Data
The Bharatiya Janata Party sharply increased its share of political donations last year, new disclosures reveal.Data released by the Election Commission of India shows the BJP received over ₹6,000 crore in 2024–25.
This marked a steep rise from nearly ₹4,000 crore collected in 2023–24. During the same period, the overall donations to eight major political parties remained stable at about ₹7,000 crore.
However, the BJP’s share jumped from 56% to 85%, highlighting a dramatic shift in funding patterns.
In contrast, the Indian National Congress received ₹522 crore in 2024–25.This was less than half of the ₹1,130 crore it raised the previous year.The gap underscores a growing financial imbalance between the ruling party and the Opposition.
Electoral Trusts Drive BJP’s Funding Surge
Electoral trusts emerged as the largest funding channels after the electoral bonds scheme ended.
Prudent Electoral Trust topped the list, donating ₹2,181 crore to the BJP. It gave ₹216 crore to the Congress during the same period. The trust’s largest contribution came from Elevated Avenue Realty LLP, linked to Larsen & Toubro. That single donation amounted to ₹500 crore.
Corporate Donations Tilt Heavily Toward the Ruling Part
The AB General Trust donated ₹606 crore to the BJP and ₹15 crore to the Congress.The trust has traditionally been associated with the Aditya Birla Group.Meanwhile, the New Democratic Electoral Trust donated ₹160 crore. Of this amount, ₹150 crore went to the BJP. Only ₹5 crore each went to the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT).
The disclosures show the same corporate groups continued to fund the BJP. However, the donation amounts increased significantly compared to previous years.Companies also allocated a much larger share to the ruling party than to its allies.
Many donations were made in April and May, before the Lok Sabha election results.
The BJP won the election but saw its seat count fall from 303 to 240. 2018 and 2024, parties relied heavily on electoral bonds for funding. The Supreme Court struck down the electoral bonds scheme in February 2024.
Since then, corporate donors have shifted primarily to electoral trusts. As a result, electoral trusts now dominate political funding in India.
Prabha Gupta is a veteran journalist and civic thinker dedicated to the constitutional ideals of dignity and institutional ethics. With over thirty years of experience in public communication, her work serves as a bridge between India’s civil society and its democratic institutions. She is a prominent voice on the evolution of Indian citizenship, advocating for a national discourse rooted in integrity and the empowerment of the common citizen
