Odisha’s BJD ‘Extorted’ Huge Funds Through Electoral Bonds To Become 5th Richest Regional Party: Congress

Bhubaneswar: Describing Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) as the 5th richest regional political party in the country, Congress on Friday said the regional outfit has collected a whopping Rs 1019.5 crore through electoral bonds.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, AICC media coordinator for Odisha Bobbeeta Sharma said that the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD has received huge funds through electoral bonds from many mining and industrial houses just in 6 years from July 16, 2018 to February 2024.

Branding BJP as a party of extortionists, she accused the saffron party of using I-T, CBI and ED against many corporate houses to be able to encash Rs 8252 crore out of Rs 16,518 crore collected by various political parties last 5 years.

BJD being a friend of BJP also followed the footsteps of the saffron party to collect political donation through electoral bonds, the Congress leader claimed.

She further claimed that BJD received highest inflow of funds through electoral bonds among non-metro cities collecting Rs 962 crore.

Prominent corporate houses which have contributed through electoral bonds are Aditya Birla Group’s Essel Mining (Rs. 174.5 cr), Utkal Alumina (70 cr), Grasim Industries (70 cr), JSPL of Nabin Jindal (100 cr), Jindal Steel (Sajan Jindal) (30 crs), Rashmi Cement Ltd. 45 crs. Rashmi Metallic Ltd. 27 crs, Odisha Metallic Pvt. Ltd. 18 crs, Runta sons pvt. Ltd. 50 cr. SN Mohanty 45 crs. Vedanta Ltd. 40 cr. Penguin Trading Agency Ltd. 30.5 cr. Sri Jagannath Steel and Power Ltd. 14 cr, the Congress leader claimed.

Sharma alleged that BJP is looting through electoral bonds but freezing the bank accounts of Indian National Congress party and that too when the election is just two month away. She accused the BJP of demolishing democratic institutions and creating an environment whereby opposition parties are being denied a level playing field.

Odisha Congress spokesperson Rajani Mohanty claimed that there is quid pro quo in the BJD list of donors. He sought to know as to why these mines owner paid such huge amounts through electoral bonds to BJD and what benefit they got in return. BJD leaders must give a clarification in this regard to the people of Odisha, he said.

The Congress leader further claimed that liquor manufactures like Laxmi Industrial Pvt. Ltd. and Castle liquid Pvt. Ltd. had also paid Rs. 10 crore and 5 crore respectively to BJD through EB.

Similarly, 35 pharmaceuticals companies paid Rs 800 crore to BJP through EB., he said, adding these companies were raided by the income tax and after that they purchased the bonds.