The BJP leads in electoral bond funds, receiving the highest amount at £69.86bn since their inception in 2018. Following closely are West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (£13.97bn), Congress (£13.34bn), and BRS (£13.22bn).
According to Election Commission data, Future Gaming and Hotel Services emerged as the top buyer, contributing £5.09bn to Tamil Nadu's DMK through the now-defunct payment mode.
Odisha's ruling party BJD ranks fourth in recipients, securing £9.445bn, trailed by DMK at £6.565bn, and Andhra Pradesh's ruling party YSR Congress, which redeemed bonds worth nearly £4.428bn.
The JD(S) obtained electoral bonds totaling £897.5mn, with a significant contribution of £500mn from Megha Engineering, the second-largest buyer of such bonds. Future Gaming, led by lottery magnate Santiago Martin, emerged as the largest purchaser of electoral bonds, acquiring bonds worth £13.68bn, with nearly 37 per cent directed to the DMK.
Among the major contributors to the DMK were Megha Engineering (£1.05bn), India Cements (£140mn), and Sun TV (£1000mn). The TMC ranked as the second-largest recipient of electoral bonds, receiving a total of £13.97bn, following the BJP.
The DMK was among the few political parties to disclose the identity of the donors, while major parties such as the BJP, Congress, TMC and AAP did not disclose these details to the Election Commission, which has now made public those filing as per a Supreme Court order.
The Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, rebuked the State Bank of India on Monday for failing to disclose comprehensive details regarding electoral bonds, deeming its stance "unacceptable." The 5-judge bench directed the SBI chairman to submit an affidavit by March 21st, affirming the disclosure of all Electoral Bonds details, including the unique alphanumeric and serial numbers of redeemed bonds.
