Bhubaneswar: The Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) received zero donations during financial year 2025-26, according to the party’s contribution report submitted to the Election Commission of India.
This is a 100% decline as compared to the last financial year. In FY2024-25, the total amount of donations received by BJD stood at Rs 60 crore.
Assembly elections were held simultaneously along with Lok Sabha polls in Odisha from May 13 to June 1 in 2024. BJP ousted the BJD government in the polls.
This sharp decline in donations to BJD after being ousted from power is shocking, but not surprising. According to political analysts, individuals or private entities donate to parties which they think to be more conducive for their own business interests.
“Individuals or entities would like to donate more to the party which they feel would come to power so that they can get favours,” political analyst Dr Abhinav Pankaj Borbora told ETV Bharat.
Notably, it is compulsory for each political party to submit a report in every financial year to the poll panel regarding donations of over Rs 20,000 it received from any individual or entity other than any government company under Section 29C (1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. This report should be submitted before October 31.
The report should be submitted to the ECI by the party’s treasurer or any individual authorised by it, before the deadline for filing the income tax return of the said financial year. In case of a failure by a political party to do this, it will be barred from getting all the tax benefits.