ECI Uploads Fresh Data On Electoral Bonds; DMK Discloses Donors’ Identities

New Delhi: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by MK Stalin, received Rs 656.5 crore through electoral bonds, including those purchased by Santiago Martin’s Future Gaming company, as per fresh data revealed by the Supreme Court.

“Data so received from political parties was deposited in the Supreme Court without opening sealed covers. In pursuance of the Supreme Court’s order dated March 15, 2024, the Registry of the Supreme Court has returned physical copies along with a digitized record of the same in a pen drive in sealed cover. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has today uploaded the data received in the digitized form from the registry of the Supreme Court on electoral bonds on its website,” ECI said in a statement.

Following are key takeaways from revelations on electoral bonds:

* Tamil Nadu’s ruling party DMK is among the few political parties which disclosed the identity of their donors. DMK received Rs 509 crore as anonymous donations from Santiago Martin’s Future Gaming company, Rs 105 crore from DMK Megha Engineering, Rs 100 crore from Sun TV and Rs 14 crore from India Cements.

* Congress party redeemed a total of Rs 1,334.35 crore through electoral bonds.

* Bharatiya Janata Party encashed electoral bonds totalling Rs 6,986.5 crore. The ruling party at the Centre encashed maximum of Rs 2,555 crore during 2019-20.

* Odisha’s BJD encashed electoral bonds worth Rs 944.5 crore.

* YSR Congress encashed Rs 442.8 crore and TDP Rs 181.35 crore.

* Trinamool Congress, second-largest recipient of donations through the electoral bonds, got Rs 1397 crore.

* K Chandrashekar Rao’s BRS is the fourth-largest recipient to the tuned of Rs 1322 crore.

* Samajwadi Party got Rs 14.05 crore via electoral bonds.

* Akali Dal received Rs 7.26 crore, AIADMK Rs 6.05 crore, National Conference Rs 50 lakh.

>> CPI(M), AIMIM, BSP didn’t receive any funds through electoral bonds.

ECI had released the first list of entities and individuals who purchased electoral bonds to make political donations on Thursday.