New Delhi: The Congress party’s receipts from donations above Rs 20,000 plunged nearly 75 per cent to Rs 130.69 crore in 2025-26, the steepest annual fall in such contributions in a decade, an analysis of the party’s filings with the Election Commission (EC) shows.
In 2024-25, the party had received Rs 517.39 crore in such contributions, according to that year’s contribution report submitted to the commission.
The latest decline follows two years of higher collections. The Congress received Rs 281.48 crore in disclosed donations in 2023-24, rising to Rs 517.39 crore in 2024-25, the year Lok Sabha elections were held, Deccan Herald reported.
In comparison, the BJP received Rs 6,074.02 crore in donations exceeding Rs 20,000 in 2024-25. This is nearly 12 times the Congress’s collection. BJP’s corresponding figure for 2025-26 is not available as the party’s contribution report has not been made public by the EC yet.
The BJP collected more than the Congress in each of the 12 financial years examined.
Funding through Prudent Electoral Trust accounted for a substantial part of Congress’ latest decline. The trust’s contribution fell from Rs 216.34 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 25 crore in 2025-26, a drop of about 88 per cent.
Prudent was the only electoral trust listed in the party’s latest contribution report.
Among other large contributors were Star Cement, which gave Rs 5 crore, Sajjan Bhajanka, who contributed Rs 4 crore, and Prem Kumar Bhajanka, who donated Rs 2 crore.
The Congress’ 2025-26 fund collection, though sharply lower than the previous year, was not its lowest over the period examined.
Its disclosed donations were lower in several earlier years, including Rs 74.52 crore in 2020-21, Rs 95.46 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 79.92 crore in 2022-23.
These figures exclude electoral bonds, which were reported separately when the scheme operated. Including bond receipts in the earlier years, the Congress’ latest collection in 2025-26 was its lowest since 2020-21.
The contribution report does not show the party’s total income, which also includes smaller donations, membership fees, coupon collections and interest.
The audited account of the Congress for 2025-26, which has not been uploaded yet, is needed to establish its overall financial position. In 2024-25, coupon collections alone brought the party Rs 350.12 crore.
