In 2022–2023 BJP topped the daily donation earnings with Rs 2 crore, while Cong earned Rs 21 lakh per day
Reporting a steady increase from 2020–21, the BJP earned approximately Rs 2 crore per day on average during the most recent fiscal year from donations above Rs 20,000, which is far more than the combined contributions of all other national parties. According to official figures analyzed by News18, the Congress got the second-highest donation, averaging Rs 21 lakh each day.
Every year, recognized political parties are required to report to the Election Commission any contributions over Rs 20,000. Currently, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), and National People’s Party (NPP) are the six national parties.
Until April 2023, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC/TMC), the CPI, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were recognized as national parties. The most recent addition to the list was AAP.
The total amount contributed to national parties was Rs 850 crore, of which the BJP alone received Rs 719.83 crore. Other national parties earned a total of only Rs 130.51 crore. Over Rs 20,000 in donations went to the Congress, which got Rs 79.92 crore; the AAP came in third place with Rs 37.1 crore in 2022–2023.
The BJP contributed an average of Rs 1.72 crore every day between 2017–18 and 2022–23, while the Congress contributed an average of Rs 0.26 crore. The BJP received an absolute sum of Rs 3,776.86 crore, while the Congress received Rs 564.14 crore. During 2017–18, these national parties have amassed Rs 4,550.95 crore in revenue.
Only the BJP and NPP recorded more contributions than the previous year, while the Congress, AAP, and CPI-M reported far lower contributions.
The BSP typically files its contribution report with the EC first out of all these national parties. According to Mayawati’s party, in 2022–2023 it did not receive any money from individuals or businesses totaling more than Rs 20,000.
The Rs 20,000 threshold is significant because, unless the contribution is made through an electoral bond, registered political parties must keep and distribute records of all contributions exceeding Rs 20,000, including the name and address of the contributor. The BSP had maintained that it exclusively accepted contributions from low-wage earners.
